Latest news with #2025PressFreedomIndex
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Peruvian journalist gunned down by hitmen in Amazon
has been shot in the head by two unidentified men on a motorbike as he was heading to work in Iquitos by motorbike taxi on Wednesday. Lopez had reported from Iquitos, deep in the Peruvian Amazon, for more than three decades. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 70-year-old radio host had regularly discussed corruption and the violence of the armed gangs that plague Iquitos on his daily current affairs program. "None of his personal belongings were taken, a strong indication that this was a targeted execution," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement on Wednesda Condemnation of killing Press freedom organizations were quick to condemn the killing. The Inter American Press Association lamented the murder of a journalist "known for his denunciations of corruption, extortion, and crime in the region." "We are deeply alarmed by the upsurge in violence against journalists in Peru," the president of the Inter American Press Association, Jose Roberto Dutriz, said in a statement. The National Association of Journalists of Peru demanded a "prompt and rigorous" investigation of Lopez's death. RSF called Lopez's death a "tragic wake-up call." "Journalists reporting on the social, political and environmental realities of the Amazon are being left without protection," the RSF said in its statement. Second killing of reporter this year Lopez's killing is the second such murder this year. In January, the owner of a regional TV channel, Gaston Medina, was shot and killed as he was leaving his house in the south-central city of Ica. Medina had also reported on Peru's extortion epidemic. Peru is experiencing an unprecedented wave of racketeering and gang violence, leading authorities to declare a state of emergency in several parts of the country. At the same time, the Latin American country has seen a worrying decline in its media freedom, sliding to 130th place out of 180 countries on RSF's 2025 Press Freedom Index. That's a fall of 53 positions since 2022.
Libyan Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Libya inches up press freedom index
BY Libyan Express May 04, 2025 - 03:44 Updated: May 04, 2025 - 03:45 Following the February 2011 Revolution, Libya experienced a brief period of experimental newspaper publishing, but these print ventures rapidly declined as the Internet became more prevalent. Photo via AFP Libya has climbed six positions in Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) 2025 Press Freedom Index, now ranking 137th amongst 180 countries worldwide. Despite this upward movement, Libya remains classified in the 'difficult situation' category, reflecting the significant challenges journalists continue to face. The Libyan media environment remains deeply fragmented along political fault lines, a persistent legacy of the 2011 revolution. Rather than functioning as independent information sources, most news outlets operate as mouthpieces for competing political factions. Journalists must navigate a patchwork of contradictory laws that offer minimal safeguards, with their personal safety consistently representing their most pressing concern. While this modest improvement in Libya's ranking signals limited progress, press freedom advocates emphasise the urgent need for robust journalist protections, thorough investigations into attacks on media workers, and substantial legal reforms. These measures are deemed essential to nurture independent journalism within Libya's complex and divided political landscape. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libya Observer
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Press freedom in Libya slightly improved
Libya ranked 137th in the 2025 Press Freedom Index, up from 143rd out of 180 countries last year. According to Reporters Without Borders' report, the index rose by six points, marking what it called a "slight improvement" in the press situation in the country. The organization noted that despite the slight improvement, Libya remains classified as a "difficult situation," as Libyan media outlets face repeated attacks that threaten their independence. News Tagged: Press Freedom
Shafaq News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq: A deadly place for journalists despite slight freedom index rise
Shafaq News/ Global press freedom is deteriorating at an unprecedented rate, with Iraq still struggling to safeguard journalists despite a modest improvement in its international ranking, a leading Iraqi rights advocate said on Saturday. The 2025 Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), ranked Iraq 155th globally, up from 169 in 2024 and 172 in 2023. Fadel Al-Gharawi, head of the Strategic Center for Human Rights in Iraq, pointed out that Iraq continues to hold the tragic distinction of having the highest number of journalists killed in the world over the past three decades, 'with more than 340 journalists lost out of a global total of 2,660.' He attributed the uneven global and regional press freedom landscape to "state censorship, restrictive legislation, lack of media independence, rising violations against journalists, and pervasive fear of legal reprisals." Al-Gharawi urged the Iraqi government and parliament to swiftly pass the long-delayed 'Right to Access Information' law to ensure transparency, strengthen anti-corruption efforts, and guarantee freedom of information. He also called for comprehensive legislation to protect journalistic freedoms and establish a safe legal environment for media workers. He further stressed the need to enhance legal and security protections for journalists, prosecute perpetrators of violations, and end the culture of impunity. Al-Gharawi advocated for revising restrictive media laws to align with the constitution and international standards. 'Protecting press freedom is a national responsibility and a cornerstone of Iraq's democratic future,' he said.
Ya Biladi
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's press freedom : Progress in rankings, persistent challenges for journalists
DR Despite a modest improvement in its ranking on the 2025 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Morocco's media landscape remains complex and challenging for independent journalists. According to the report released by the organization on Friday, May 2, Morocco moved from 129th place in 2024 to 120th out of 180 countries, with its overall score rising from 45.97 to 48.04. This numerical progress is reflected across most sub-indicators, notably the political indicator, which saw a significant leap from 119th to 97th place, with its score improving from 40.31 to 44.25. The economic indicator also improved, climbing from 135th to 115th, while the legislative indicator rose from 128th to 117th. There were slight improvements in the social and security indicators, but the overall result remains below the global average, highlighting the ongoing structural challenges facing the media sector. Regionally, Morocco ranked second in North Africa, up from fourth place last year. It now trails Mauritania, which ranked 50th globally. Algeria ranked 126th, Tunisia 129th, and Libya 137th, showing a significant disparity in the media landscape across the region. Despite this relative progress, Morocco's media environment remains difficult, according to Reporters Without Borders. Independent journalists continue to face systemic pressure as authorities seek to strengthen their control over the media, claims RWB. For years, journalism in Morocco has been restricted on sensitive topics such as the Sahara, the monarchy, corruption, Islam, security services, and the suppression of demonstrations, according to the organization. Money and Power… at the Expense of Freedom Reporters Without Borders notes that Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has filed multiple legal complaints against critical journalists. «Since the National Rally of Independents (RNI) won the 2021 legislative elections, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, has increased judicial actions against journalists who criticise his government», reads the report. «He also uses his financial power to influence the editorial choices of the most prominent media outlets, while outlets that oppose his government face financial restrictions. This alliance between money and power hinders the press' ability to report on corruption in the management of public affairs, as any attempt to expose corruption brings a financial and legal risk». In a tough economic environment, media outlets struggle to attract advertisers, hindering their financial stability, especially for independent outlets that have become increasingly rare. In contrast, state-affiliated or government-loyal media enjoy financial backing, allowing them to operate with more stability, according to the report. This was issued a day before World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The organization also points out that despite the abolition of prison sentences in the new press law adopted in 2016, the situation on the ground has not significantly changed. Any critical publication still risks legal prosecution under the penal code. This situation exposes the fragility of the legal framework protecting freedom of expression and the judiciary's weak independence, forcing journalists to self-censor for fear of retribution. The dissolution of the National Press Council and its replacement with a temporary body in 2023 is seen as a setback for the self-regulation of Moroccan journalism. «In recent years, fabricated morality cases, such as rape, human trafficking, adultery and illegal abortion, have been used against independent journalists», the report states. The recent release of journalists, including Taoufik Bouachrine, Omar Radi, and Soulaimane Raissouni, under a royal pardon in July 2024, sparked hope. However, as the 2026 elections approach, pressures on critical journalists are mounting. The Prime Minister is using his power to restrict the press, and Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has intensified prosecutions of journalists this year. Globally, Norway retained its top position in the rankings, followed by Estonia, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Meanwhile, Eritrea, North Korea, China, Syria, and Iran remain at the bottom, ranking among the worst countries for press freedom.
