International Press Institute (IPI)

US ICE arrested journalist in Nashville without arrest warrant, her lawyers say A reporter working for local news outlet Nashville Noticias was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Nashville without ​a warrant, an emergency petition filed by her attorneys i...

🇺🇸 #USA: IPI is alarmed by the warrantless arrest of @NASHNOTICIAS reporter Estefany Rodríguez – a legal U.S. resident – by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

IPI calls for her release.
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🔴This week, IPI has been in #Brussels & #London to help launch 2025 report of Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists. The report - On the Tipping Point: Press Freedom 2025 - was written by Platform partners, including IPI. Download👇

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(3/3) @sozcutv.bsky.social anchor @ozlemgursess.bsky.social has announced that she is receiving death threats, sharing that she has been targeted by systematic harassment and intimidation. Gürses stated that she will file a criminal complaint regarding the threats to her safety.
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(2/3) @cnnturkcom.bsky.social reporter Emrah Çakmak and cameraman Halil Kahraman were detained by Israeli forces in Tel Aviv while on assignment. The journalists were interrogated about their reasons for filming before being released.
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(1/3) @ankahaber.net Editor-in-Chief Kenan Şener, and Koza TV’s Mehlika Bilen and Sergen Ölçer have been released after being detained for broadcasting near a military air base. They were accused of violating the “forbidden military zones” law while performing their duties.
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#Turkey: Four journalists detained, two held by Israeli forces following a live broadcast, and another received death threats. Here’s our weekly round-up of #pressfreedom developments in the country. 🧵👇

North Macedonia: Appeal court ruling on Investigative Reporting Lab a worrying setback for media freedom – ipi.media North Macedonia appeal court ruling on Investigative Reporting Lab a worrying setback for media freedom

#NorthMacedonia: A recent defamation decision by the Court of Appeal against the Investigative Reporting Lab (IRL) is a worrying development for #mediafreedom in the country which should be overturned on further appeal. Read our full MFRR statement👇

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🇺🇦 Exclusive interview: journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko recounts the torture that he was subjected to by Russian occupying authorities in Crimea👇
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We demand the release of all 26 Ukrainian journalists whose lives are at risk in Russian captivity

#IJ4EU: Funding cross-border investigative journalism in #Europe
💶Grants up to €50k - for newsrooms & freelancers
✅Training, mentoring, legal support, awards & events…
🗓️Apply by April 13
IPI with @ejcnet @ECPMF @journalismarena
#creativeeurope
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Call for nominations: IPI-IMS 2026 press freedom awards IPI and IMS are proud to announce the call for nominations for this year’s World Press Freedom Hero Award and Free Media Pioneer Award

Call for nominations: IPI and @imsforfreemedia.bsky.social are now accepting nominees for this year’s World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards.

🗓️ Submit your nominations by March 20! 🔗 buff.ly/bdP5pGd

Iran: IPI condemns regime’s information blackout One week since the Iranian regime cut off the internet and mobile services for its 90 million citizens, Iran remains in a near-total information blackout amid the largest anti-regime protests in years...

In cutting off communications, the regime is preventing Iranians from accessing critical news, and restricting the ability for media to share what could be lifesaving information.

Authorities must immediately restore internet access.
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Iran Plunges Into ‘Near-Total Internet Blackout’ As Epic Fury Strikes Begin As Operation Epic Fury begins, network data reveals that Iran has been plunged into near internet darkness, with national connectivity now at just 4%.

🇮🇷 #Iran: The Iranian people have now spent more than 48 hours in a near-total information blackout, amid escalating military strikes by the U.S. and Israel.

The Iranian regime must not stifle the free flow of communications and of news and information.
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Andrei Pakalenka and Uladzimir Yanukevich, former editors of online outlet BAR24.BY and previously of independent newspaper Intex-Press. Collage by Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ)

#Belarus: IPI condemns prison sentences for Uladzimir Yanukevich and Andrei Pakalenka.

The editors of Intex Press, formerly Belarus's largest independent newspaper, now shuttered by authorities, were sentenced to 14 and 12 years in prison respectively👇
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🔴Tomorrow, 3 March, IPI will be in Brussels to participate in launch of annual #pressfreedom report of Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists. A press conference will be held at Press Club Brussels Europe from 10:00–12:00 CET. Watch👇

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Greece: Executives of spyware firm used to surveil journalist Thanasis Koukakis sentenced to prison – ipi.media IPI welcomes the recent criminal convictions handed down by a Greek court to four individuals from surveillance firm Intellexa whose Predator spyware was used to illegally surveil Greek journalist…

#Greece: IPI welcomes the recent criminal convictions handed down by a Greek court to four individuals from surveillance firm Intellexa whose Predator spyware was used to illegally surveil Greek journalist Thanasis Koukakis. Full statement👇

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Skopje Court Upholds Defamation Ruling Against Investigative Journalists The Skopje Court of Appeal upheld a defamation ruling against investigative journalists from IRL, an OCCRP partner, in a case described as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP).

🇲🇰#NorthMacedonia: IPI is shocked by the recent verdict by the Skopje Court of Appeal which upheld a controversial defamation ruling against leading investigative media, IRL. We support the appeal of this dangerous verdict to the Supreme Court. Info👇

www.occrp.org/en/news/skop...

Hong Kong: IPI condemns 20-year prison sentence of 2025 IPI World Press Freedom Hero Jimmy Lai The IPI global network strongly condemns today’s sentencing of 2025 IPI World Press Freedom Hero Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison. We urge the international community – and in particular the United…

🇭🇰 #HongKong: Despite the overturning of his 2022 fraud conviction, nothing has changed for Jimmy Lai.

He still remains unjustly sentenced to 20 years in prison – effectively the rest of his life.

Lai must be released immediately. #FreeJimmyLai
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(3/3) Journalist Mücahit Tarlan was allegedly threatened and physically assaulted by a mayor, following social media posts criticizing the municipality’s snow removal efforts.
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(2/3) Journalist Ömer Ödemiş has been sentenced to more than six years in prison on terrorism charges five years after he was initially acquitted of the same charges.
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(1/3) Journalist Mehmet Ali Ertaş has been detained in Diyarbakır based on secret witness testimonies. He has since been released after providing his statement.
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#Turkey: One journalist was detained, another sentenced to prison. One was threatened and physically assaulted. Here’s our weekly round-up of #pressfreedom developments in the country. 🧵👇

📢 ICYMI: IPI and @imsforfreemedia.bsky.social are now accepting nominations for the 2026 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards.

🗓️ Submit your nominations by March 20! 🔗 buff.ly/bdP5pGd

Angola: Alarm over spyware attack on journalist Teixeira Candido – ipi.media The IPI global network is alarmed over reports that Angolan journalist Teixeira Candido was targeted by Predator spyware, underscoring the pervasive threat that surveillance tech poses to journalists…

#Angola: IPI is alarmed over reports that journalist Teixeira Candido's phone was targeted using Predator spyware sometime in May 2024. The case spotlights the urgent need to combat the deployment of surveillance tools to target journalists & activists.
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Nominations now open! The #IJ4EU Impact Award 2026 recognises cross-border investigative journalism that made a real difference in 2025. Three winning teams will each receive €5,000. Apply by 23 April 2026.
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Pakistan: IPI, partners urge PM to address worsening environment for press freedom The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined 17 press freedom and human rights organizations in writing to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to raise alarm over the deteriorating environment for…

🇵🇰 #Pakistan: Today, IPI joined 17 partners in signing a letter to PM Shehbaz Sharif urging him to take immediate action to protect members of the media in Pakistan, amid a deteriorating environment for press freedom in the country.

Read the letter:
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Africa Media Festival 2026

IPI is excited to join this year’s Africa Media Festival! Join us on February 25 at 2:30 pm local time to talk about climate, conflict, & censorship. Our panel will spotlight experiences of journalists working in hostile environments, including the DRC & Sudan.
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Venezuela: Acting government must demonstrate respect for press freedom The IPI global network today calls on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, and her government to end the persecution of journalists in line with the government’s stated commitments to…

There can be no true amnesty while journalists still face unjust charges meant to intimidate them into silence.

President Rodríguez must ensure Venezuela’s journalists are free and safe to do their critical work.

Read our full statement:
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Venezuela: Acting government must demonstrate respect for press freedom The IPI global network today calls on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, and her government to end the persecution of journalists in line with the government’s stated commitments to…

🇻🇪 #Venezuela: Following the passage of a new amnesty bill, IPI calls on acting president Delcy Rodríguez to take concrete steps to end the persecution of journalists, including dropping all retaliatory charges against members of the press.
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2/2 At the summit, Mhlanga spoke about his 73-day pre-trial detention in 2025 over his reporting and the deteriorating press freedom situation in Zimbabwe. Authorities in Zimbabwe must stop invoking provisions on sovereignty and national security to threaten and harass journalists.

Government condemns ‘false, malicious’ Geneva claims - herald Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter GOVERNMENT has condemned a malicious and false address made at a Geneva forum in Switzerland regarding the state of human rights and the rule of law in…

#Zimbabwe: 1/2 IPI condemns comments by Zimbabwe’s information minister describing a speech by journalist Blessed Mhlanga at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy as an “act of hostility against his homeland”. The Minister also threatened Mhlanga with criminal prosecution
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