International Press Institute (IPI)

Placed in the hands of Turkey’s highly politicized judiciary, the law would become another tool for harassing journalists and activists and may cause blanket self-censorship across the internet.

Independent journalists have come under growing pressure in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

If the bill – which provides punishments of up to three years in prison – becomes law “it will boost systematic censorship and self-censorship in Turkey instead of fighting disinformation”, press groups say.

The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh represents a particularly egregious attack on the press, not least because of credible reports that she and other journalists were intentionally targeted by Israeli forces, but also in light of growing concerns over impunity for crimes against journalists and other grave human rights abuses by Israel in the occupied Palestine territory.

In Ukraine, at least 7 journalists have been killed and another 33 fired upon or wounded. In Russia, at least 114 media websites have been blocked, 10 major press outlets have been closed, and at least 11 journalists have been fined or detained under the new ‘fake’ news law.

With authoritarianism and illiberalism on the rise, democratic governments must lead by example, says IPI on World Press Freedom Day.

The initiative, which focuses on cross-border cases, is a crucial first step forward in the fight against abusive lawsuits against public watchdogs in Europe. It includes key remedies and safeguards needed in any effective anti-SLAPP legislation.

The International Press Institute urges authorities to carry out a thorough investigation in order to determine the motive for the killing of journalist Mohiuddin Sarkar Nayeem and to ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice.