Essen – Germany | May 3, 2025
With the presence of a distinguished group of journalists, media professionals, and academics from various countries around the world, the journalistic forum was held to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.
The forum began with speeches delivered by the head of the organization, Professor Dr. Farhad Ali, and the general supervisor, Professor Dr. Luqman Doski, along with several other participants. Their speeches emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of expression amid escalating threats and increasing restrictions on media. They asserted that commemorating this day is not merely a celebration but a form of action and resistance against tyranny and suppression of freedoms.
As part of the forum’s events, a documentary video was presented detailing the how, when, where, and why World Press Freedom Day was established.
Additionally, a specialized research team from the Department of International Relations, Research, and Studies — comprising 17 academics from around the world — presented the results of a survey on the motives behind journalists’ migration from eight Middle Eastern countries: Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Tunisia.
A total of 1,780 journalists from these countries participated in the survey. The respondents cited low wages, professional restrictions, and a scarcity of independent media outlets as the main professional reasons driving migration. On the social front, poor economic conditions and the pursuit of a better life were the main social motivators behind their decision to migrate.
Participation by Country:
- Iraq: 55.9%
- Sudan: 25.9%
- Tunisia: 8.8%
- Egypt: 6.5%
- Lebanon: 1.2%
- Syria: 1%
- Yemen: 0.2%
Professor Dr. Habib Ibrahim, head of the Department of International Relations, Research, and Studies, also participated in the forum and presented an academic paper titled “European Legislation for the Protection of Media Freedom and Independence: A Legal and Practical Analysis.”
Another major topic discussed was the documentation of violations against journalists during the first quarter of 2025, a report prepared by the organization’s Media Department.
The report was presented by Mr. Hadi Dubani, head of the Media Department at “Journalists Without Borders,” who shared the preliminary findings for 2025. It documented 327 serious violations against journalists and media workers during the first three months of the year, broken down as follows:
- 162 cases of arbitrary arrest
- 42 murders
- 125 cases of censorship, threats, and physical assault
Geographic Distribution of Violations:
According to the report, the violations were geographically distributed as follows:
- Asia: Topped the list with more than 233 documented cases
- Africa: Saw a rise in violations with 62 cases, including 7 in Egypt and 6 in Benin
- Europe: Recorded 22 violations, mostly in Russia and Belarus (9 each), and one case each in Ukraine, Germany, Greece, and Serbia
- North America: Reported 9 cases (8 in Mexico, 1 in the United States)
- South America: Reported 1 case in Venezuela
- Oceania: No violations were recorded during this period
Top Countries with the Highest Number of Violations:
- Georgia
- China
- Turkey
- Syria
- Palestine
- Lebanon
Most Common Types of Violations:
- 162 cases of arbitrary arrest
- 125 cases of threats and censorship
- 40 murders
The forum concluded with an extended discussion session involving attendees, where questions were raised about the international community’s responsibility in addressing the ongoing and increasing violations against journalists. The discussions stressed the urgent need to find ways to curb these practices so that journalists can fulfill their duties.
Participants reaffirmed their continuous support for journalists and their families, emphasizing their solidarity until the truth prevails and freedom becomes a beacon that dispels the darkness of oppressive regimes that violate press freedom.
Report by: Dubani
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