IFJ Asia Pacific

IFJ Pakistan Media Labour Rights Bulletin, October 2025 / IFJ The IFJ's Pakistan Media Labour Rights Bulletin aims to highlight key cases and success stories, communicate industry developments and review progress on labour rights reform action in Pakistan.

#Pakistan: The IFJ's Pakistan Media Labour Rights Bulletin for October is out now, highlighting the ongoing campaign for decent work in Pakistan’s media, including key cases, success stories and industry developments.
Read more here 👇

Myanmar: Global, regional and national unions call on ASEAN to reject sham ‘election’ / IFJ The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and more than 300 global union federations, trade unions, civil society, and human rights organisations from South East Asia and around the world on O...

#Myanmar🇲🇲: The International Federation of Journalists and more than 300 global union federations, trade unions, civil society, and human rights organisations on October 24 called on governments to outrightly reject the Myanmar military junta’s upcoming planned ‘sham’ election.

Philippines: Injured broadcaster dies after shooting attack / IFJ Filipino radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar died on October 21 after sustaining gunshot wounds in a shooting attack a day earlier on October 20 in the northern island of Luzon. The International Fede...

#Philippines: Filipino radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar died on October 21 after sustaining gunshot wounds in a shooting attack a day earlier on October 20 in the northern island of Luzon.

Right to strike: Court begins hearings From 6 to 8 October, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) begins public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion on the right to strike. In 2023, the Governing Body of the ILO referred the ...

Asia-Pacific countries participated in the Right to Strike Advisory Proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from the 6-8 October 2025.

Read more about the campaign here🔗: www.ituc-csi.org/right-to-str...

#LabourRights #tradeunionmovement #therighttostrike

Afghanistan: Second journalist killed in Afghanistan in two days / IFJ Afghan media worker Abdul Zahir Safi was killed in a civilian area of Kabul after an alleged airstrike on the city on October 16. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Afghan Indep...

#Afghanistan🇦🇫: Afghan media worker Abdul Zahir Safi was killed in a civilian area of Kabul after an alleged airstrike on the city on October 16.
www.ifj.org/media-centre...

It’s been 50 years since the Balibo 5 were killed in Timor-Leste. No one’s been held accountable The five journalists, including two Australians, died while doing their jobs. Despite half a century of evidence and lobbying, justice remains elusive.

October 16 marked 50 years since five journalists were killed in the remote Timorese town of Balibo, and still no one has been held accountable for their deaths.
#PressFreedom#timorleste
theconversation.com/its-been-50-...

Afghanistan: Journalist killed reporting Pakistan border conflict / IFJ Afghan journalist Abdul Ghafoor Abed was killed and another journalist was wounded during cross-border fighting between Taliban and Pakistani forces on October 14. The International Federation of Jour...

#Afghanistan: Afghan journalist Abdul Ghafoor Abed was killed and another journalist was wounded during cross-border fighting between Taliban and Pakistani forces on October 14.

IFJ South Asia Media Bulletin - October 2025 / IFJ The IFJ South Asia Media Bulletin for October 2025 highlights the Sri Lankan government’s unfulfilled pledge of media reform; the Federation of Asia-Pacific Journalists’ Triennial Congress; an interne...

IFJ's South Asia Media Bulletin for October 2025 is out now!
This month, the IFJ places a focus on the Sri Lankan government's unfulfilled pledge of media freedom. Read the full bulletin below:

Zionists v Keane, Riemer, Kostakidis. Australia's massive test cases for free speech - Michael West Zionist lawsuits against Mary Kostakidis and Sydney Uni academics John Keane and Nick Riemer are a mighty test case for free speech in Australia

Following statements from IFJ and @withmeaa.bsky.social, Australian journalist Michael West explores the evolving test case in Australia regarding the silencing of journalists by lobby groups. #PressFreedom #Australia

Political commentator Murray Hunter arrested in Bangkok The Australian is known for his critical writings on Malaysian politics.

The IFJ is closely monitoring the case of Australian journalist Hunter Murray, who was arrested in Thailand on September 29 over alleged defamatory social media posts. He was released on bail the following day and is due to stand trial on November 17. #PressFreedom

IFJ Asia Pacific Regional Bulletin - October 2025 / IFJ The IFJ Asia Pacific Regional Bulletin for October 2025 highlights the prolonged incarceration of two women journalists, Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Zhang Zhan; two Cambodian journalists charged with trea...

The IFJ Asia Pacific Regional Bulletin🌏for October is out now! The IFJ puts a focus on the prolonged and egregious incarceration of two women journalists, Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Zhang Zhan.
Read the full bulletin now 👇

Delhi court lifts censorship order on senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta which had restrained him from reporting on Adani.
#PressFreedom #India
www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/d...

Myanmar: Rebel forces abduct journalist over civil war coverage / IFJ Journalist Mu Dra was abducted from her home in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by the rebel Arakan Army on September 20. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Myanmar Jou...

#Myanmar: Journalist Mu Dra was abducted from her home in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by the rebel Arakan Army on September 20.

#IFJBlog: Guardians of truth: Protecting Indonesia’s press is protecting democracy / IFJ Indonesia’s democracy is in decline as the media community faces violence, censorship and mass job layoffs. With the media sector under increasing pressure, it is now more critical than ever to have c...

#IFJBlog: Indonesia’s democracy is in decline as the media community faces violence, censorship and mass job layoffs. It is now more critical than ever to have civil society on side to defend journalists as the guardians of truth and democracy, writes Nany Afrida. Read more:

Judge says ABC 'let down the Australian public' over Lattouf sacking The judge ordered ABC to pay a fine of $150,000 for unlawfully sacking journalist and presenter Antoinette Lattouf for reasons including her political opinions.

The ABC has been ordered to pay a fine of $150,000 to journalist Antoinette Lattouf for her unlawful termination.
#PressFreedom #Australia
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Zhang Zhan Sentenced to Four Years for COVID-19 Reporting Zhang Zhan Sentenced to Four Years for COVID-19 Reporting Citizen Journalist Rearrested a Year After Release Faces Same Charges as Prior Term

Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan is sentenced to another four years in prison for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan.
#PressFreedom #China
www.chosun.com/english/worl...

When journalism is exploited, aberrations become the norm A pro-democracy think-tank has recently stated, based on research, that press freedom, which had declined significantly in the past five years, is now at its lowest in the last 50 years. It appears, i...

According to research press freedom is the lowest it has been in the last 50 years. #PressFreedom
www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-e...

Press secretary cautions media on labelling protests as mobs He also pushed for the media wage board implementation

Bangladesh Press Secretary warns that labelling legitimate protests as 'mobs' undermines protest rights, and advocated for the implementation of a media wage board. #PressFreedom #Bangladesh
www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/p...

Zhang Zhan: who is the Chinese citizen journalist facing a second trial? The former lawyer was outspoken about China’s response to the Covid pandemic

Chinese citizen journalist and former lawyer, Zhang Zhan, will face trial for a second time, after being jailed for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. #PressFreedom #China
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Nepal: Attacks on media escalate amid anti-corruption protests / IFJ Amid an escalation of violence against journalists and media outlets during Nepal’s mass ‘Gen-Z’ anti-corruption protests, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has documented at least 42 ...

#Nepal: Amid an escalation of violence against journalists and media outlets during Nepal’s mass ‘Gen-Z’ anti-corruption protests, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has documented at least 42 media rights violations since September 8.

Maldives: Parliament passes repressive media control bill / IFJ The Maldivian parliament has voted to pass its widely condemned ‘media control bill’ on September 16, granting sweeping new government powers to regulate the country’s media industry, amid escalating ...

#Maldives: The Maldivian parliament has voted to pass its widely condemned ‘media control bill’ on September 16, granting sweeping new government powers to regulate the country’s media industry, amid escalating harassment and detainment of critical journalists and media workers.

#IFJBlog: Nepal’s two days of reckoning – from social media ban to nationwide uprising / IFJ A two-day uprising in Nepal on September 8 and 9 saw youth-led protests over institutional corruption and a sweeping social-media ban erupt into deadly state violence and nationwide riots that toppled Prime Minister KP Oli and forced the country into an interim citizen-led government, writes Ujjwal Acharya.

#IFJBlog: A two-day uprising in Nepal on September 8 and 9 saw youth-led anti-corruption protests over a sweeping social-media ban erupt into deadly state violence, toppling PM KP Oli and installing an interim citizen-led government, writes Ujjwal Acharya. Read the IFJ Blog in the link below:

IFJ South Asia Media Bulletin - September 2025 / IFJ The IFJ South Asia Media Bulletin for September 2025 highlights deadly protests in Nepal after a sweeping social media ban and entrenched corruption, failing media legislation across the region, arbitrary journalist arrests in India, advocacy in the Maldives against a proposed 'media control bill', calls for peace and democracy in Nepal by the Federation of Nepali Journalists, and IFJ-led journalist union trainings in Pakistan, among other stories.

IFJ's South Asia Media Bulletin for September 2025 is out now!
Top stories include nationwide protests in Nepal, advocacy in the Maldives against 'media control bill', Bangladeshi journalists under threat and IFJ-led journalist union trainings in Pakistan.

"Media control bill" heads for Monday vote after secret committee review - Maldives Independent Editors vow defiance despite looming regulatory crackdown.

A proposed 'Media control bill' will be voted on by Maldivian parliament on Monday September 15, after reporters were forcibly removed from a committee meeting on Wednesday, and a week after 21 media outlets called for its withdrawal. #Maldives #PressFreedom
maldivesindependent.com/politics/med...

Pakistan: Three journalists assaulted at Rawalpindi press conference / IFJ Three journalists were allegedly attacked at a press conference held by Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Rawalpindi on September 8. The International Federation o...

#Pakistan: Three journalists were allegedly attacked at a press conference held by Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Rawalpindi on September 8.

Nepal: Four journalists injured amid deadly social media ban protests / IFJ Four journalists were injured in Kathmandu on September 8 during violent clashes with police over the country’s controversial social media bill and the recent banning of 26 social media platforms. The...

#Nepal: Four journalists were injured in Kathmandu on September 8 during violent clashes with police over the country’s controversial social media bill and the recent banning of 26 social media platforms. @ifjglobal.bsky.social

Myanmar: Global unions call for removal of junta-aligned human rights commission / IFJ As Myanmar’s military continues its systematic eradication of press freedom and persecution of the country’s remaining independent media, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined s...

#Myanmar🇲🇲: The IFJ has joined seven global union federations in calling for the removal of the junta-aligned Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) from the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF).
www.ifj.org/media-centre...

Bangladesh: Journalist detained under anti-terrorism act during roundtable / IFJ Journalist Monjurul Alam Panna was among 16 people taken into custody by police in Dhaka on August 28, with a case filed under Bangladesh’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The International Federation of Jo...

Bangladesh: Journalist Monjurul Alam Panna was among 16 people taken into custody by police in Dhaka on August 28, with a case filed under Bangladesh’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Pakistan: Bogus case registered in ongoing harassment of union leader / IFJ The government-operated Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) has filed a legal case against Islamabad-based journalist Furqan Rao – the latest development in a long-running case of harassment against th...

#Pakistan: The government-operated Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) has filed a legal case against Islamabad-based journalist Furqan Rao – the latest development in a long-running case of harassment against the media union leader.

Indonesia: Violence against journalists spikes amid nationwide protests / IFJ At least 20 media rights violations, including violent assaults, threats, and intimidation, have been documented across Indonesia between August 25-30, as authorities crack down on journalists amid na...

Indonesia: At least 20 media rights violations, including violent assaults, threats, and intimidation, have been documented across Indonesia between August 25-30, as authorities crack down on journalists amid nationwide anti-government protests.