On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day 2025: 

QaribTalk #13: All the news we cannot print – Media restrictions in the Middle East. 

Across Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan, media professionals face increasing restrictions that hinder press freedom and independent journalism. In Lebanon and Iraq, journalists exposing corruption risk prosecution under defamation laws. Jordanian authorities rely on cybercrime legislation to silence dissenting voices online, for instance currently to suppress public discussion, criticism, or expressions of support related to the ban of the Muslim Brotherhood or its affiliates in Jordan. In Palestine, repression comes from multiple fronts: Israeli occupation forces impose physical barriers, censorship, and violence, while both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas restrict critical reporting within their respective territories. Despite these challenges, alternative media outlets persist, navigating a complex landscape of legal, political, and physical threats to ensure that untold stories reach the public. 

We want to explore how laws and policies across the region are systematically used to suppress freedom of expression and target journalists. We also want to address the ongoing killing of journalists in Gaza—now considered the most dangerous place in the world for media professionals, with nearly 175 journalists killed since the war began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. 

We therefore invite you to join our QaribTalk #13: All the news we cannot print – Media restrictions in the Middle East on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on Thursday, 08 May, at 16h Amman time (15h CET). 

Beyond the immediate dangers of reporting in conflict zones, we will examine how vague legal provisions—such as accusations of “incitement to sedition” or “stirring up strife”—are weaponized to justify censorship and prosecution.  

We will also discuss the challenges posed by media ownership structures—whether state-controlled or influenced by private interests—that foster self-censorship and limit editorial independence. In this environment, alternative media continues to play a crucial role in exposing issues overlooked by mainstream outlets. 

Please join the debate with us and: 

• Shuruq As’ad  Palestinian Journalistز 
• Ramzi Kaiss, Human Rights Researcher at Human Rights Watch (Lebanon)
• Kholoud Helmi, Co-founder of Enab Baladi (Syria).
• Mohammed Abu Shahma, journalist based in Gaza, collaborator with Daraj platform and OCCRP.
• Yassir Al-Salem Editor in chief of Al-Mada. (Iraq)

The discussion will be moderated by Nada Abdelsamad, Chief editorial advisor for the Qarib Program.

Speakers