Index on Censorship

Freedom of expression is under attack. For over 50 years, we have defended free expression by amplifying silenced voices, protecting those who speak out and challenging attempts to silence journalists and whistleblowers. Join us. Become a member ⬇️ www.indexoncensorship.org/memberships/

🇹🇷Turkey’s opposition is under attack. Since the AKP’s 2024 electoral defeat, opposition mayors have faced arrests and independent newsrooms have been targeted. Index contributing editor Kaya Genç examines Erdoğan’s crackdown: indexoncensorship.org/2026/10/erdo...

We can't topple the Taliban, but we can give some women in Afghanistan their voice back. We are doing this primarily through our Letters from Afghan Women project. Explore the letters today here on our new page: www.indexoncensorship.org/campaign-let...

As media outlets and officials in Russia have been busy deleting or moderating reports, we may never know the truth about lab technician Daria Shipilova's death. CEO @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social writes✍️ www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/10/russ...

Six journalists were arrested for daring to say "don't believe it" in Egypt, one of the world’s most prolific jailers of journalists. 🖊Read why Matsada2sh reporters were silenced in President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's Egypt: www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/10/egyp...

Leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski is the latest British politician to be banned from entering Israel. 11 MPs have also been banned. States are weaponising travel bans to silence free speech. www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/07/how-...

Books are not the only things being challenged. So are the stories and identities they carry. For #BannedBooksWeek, Xtra Magazine has launched Comics Against Censorship, a five-part series on LGBTQ2S+ stories, censorship and the freedom to read. 🔗 xtramagazine.com/series/comic...

Index CEO @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social joined BBC Radio 4’s AntiSocial to discuss the decision to cut sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look for iPlayer. Editing old comedy raises difficult questions about censorship and context. Listen to the full discussion here: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Reform UK's treatment of local journalists is of real concern. @Derbyshirecc's Reform UK leadership banning LDR Eddie Bisknell is a pathetic attempt to avoid scrutiny, and we have seen stories like this in Nottingham and Suffolk before. Reform has form.

Today we remember Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi eight years after his murder. A critic of the regime, Khashoggi was brutally killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Justice has still not been served.

Last week the BBC removed sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look. This week? An article on nail fashion. The BBC need to DEFEND their content, not remove it, especially when the reason for its removal appears to be fear of causing offence… www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/that...

Another author has been dropped from a festival because of their views on Israel-Palestine. Argentinian Ariana Harwicz was meant to speak at the weekend in Granada. It's crucial to be able to debate opposing views, not silence them, a point we made here: www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/01/a-ta...

As talks with #China continue, we simply hope President Donald Trump will do the right thing and call for the release of #JimmyLai thehill.com/opinion/whit...

Sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look were this week removed from iPlayer because they no longer "work today". One sketch showed the comedy duo satirising racism while in blackface. Do such actions risk infantilising audiences? www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/that...

Trump today said he and President Xi have forged a “truly great friendship”. We hope he uses that bond to #FreeJimmyLai

This ruling is welcome. It is vindication for MS NOW, CNN and Politico, but it should NEVER have been needed. Trump’s vilifying of the press remains a major concern.

ICYMI: Serbian elections are now nearly a month away. They are hugely important not just for #Serbia, but for the #EU as a whole. Learn why👇 🇷🇸🇪🇺

ICYMI: Serbian elections are now nearly a month away. They are hugely important not just for #Serbia, but for the #EU as a whole. Learn why👇 🇷🇸🇪🇺

CEO @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social is a joint signatory to a letter condemning the exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. It is now day 3 of the ban. This cannot continue. Read the full statement here: newsmediauk.org/blog/2026/09...

#HongKong ✍️ In @thehill.com our CEO @jemimahsteinfeld.bsky.social on Donald Trump to push China to release Jimmy Lai. Trump said he would in 2024. With Xi’s visit to the US next week, it’s time for Trump to do the right thing. Time to #FreeJimmyLai. thehill.com/opinion/whit...

We are glad to hear South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy is safe and of that his fixer Kooki Mahmoud, was apparently released without charge in Djibouti. This case remains gravely concerning. Reports Micah Reddy was in secretive intelligence custody for four days are intolerable.

#Serbia has been negotiating EU membership since 2014. Yet Brussels continues to raise concerns over democratic standards under Aleksandar Vučić, without much changing. Ahead of vital elections next month, does the EU need a new approach? Read: indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/vuci...

> CNN, MS NOW & Politico sue Trump administration over being denied White House access > ABC, CBS, NBC & Fox suspend pooled TV coverage of Trump after CNN blocked Solidarity between journalists is VITAL. Protect the First Amendment.

#Belarus 🇧🇾 IFEX welcomes the release of Andrei Aliaksandrau, Irina Zlobina & BelaPAN colleagues. Alongside Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), @indexoncensorship.org & @article19.bsky.social, we demand all political prisoners be freed: buff.ly/RqFU3Mh

Today we joined press rights groups calling on the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of investigative journalists and filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and to protect their fundamental rights. You can read the letter in full here: t.co/TnpHire7L8

STATEMENT: Index and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) express support for researcher Massimo Moratti as he faces expulsion from Serbia www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/mass...

Following the news of Andrei’s release, our CEO Jemimah Steinfeld is asking for your help to continue supporting our work defending freedom of expression around the world. Become an Index member: t.co/610Roojjyu

A disturbing new report from @thecfhk.bsky.social says Hong Kong prison guards have rehearsed procedures for Jimmy Lai’s death in custody. They shouldn’t be preparing for his death. They should be releasing him. Read the full report: t.co/w49mwcG3DR

Coming up on Index 👀 -A Hong Kong advocacy website appears to be the latest blocked in the city. -Should the EU rethink its approach to Serbia? -What recent attacks mean for Turkey’s LGBTQ+ community. #HongKong #Serbia #Turkey #LGBTQ

While the news of Andrei’s release is welcome, the man himself reminds us so many political prisoners are still behind bars. “Everyone wants to go home,” he told Nasha Niva We continue to call for their release. nashaniva.com/amp/en/404775

Please see our full reaction to today's news: t.co/DhzQUTKtSL

BREAKING: We are utterly delighted by the news that finally, after over 2,073 days of unjust imprisonment, our brave friend and former colleague Andrei Aliaksandrau has been released from jail in Belarus. His wife Irina was also released. Here, they are pictured together... free.

The promoter’s decision to remove an artist from a tour for expressing a political view is very troubling. For some, @Macklemore's remarks are controversial or even offensive, but they are not incitement or hate speech. news.sky.com/story/ed-she...

Two Yemeni newspaper offices were bombed a year ago, killing 31 journalists and destroying an archive. This report goes into the rubble, the noise and tragedy of that day and reveals how devastating it was for the preservation of Yemen's history. READ: www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/yeme...

INDEX ON CENSORSHIP: Yemen bombing: Piecing together the explosion that killed 31 journalists www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/yeme... @indexoncensorship.org‬ #journalism #photojournalism #pressfreedom‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

🔴 New project | Tackling TNR FPC is pleased to join @indexoncensorship.org and @iphr.bsky.social on a new project, supported by the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, to strengthen evidence and policy responses to TNR. Read: www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/09/tack...

With huge numbers of people arrested over speech, the UK’s speech laws urgently need review. We’ve signed @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social’s letter calling on PM Andy Burnham to look into this. You can read the letter in full, here: bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/press-releas...

A report by @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social says the UK is a “postcode lottery” of speech policing, with drastically varying rates of arrests across police forces. You can see the full report in the link below: bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/campaigns/save…

Index is concerned by reports prominent journalist Mohamed Yousfi, known to be a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, has been arrested in Tunisia. We stand in solidarity and call for his immediate release. www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/...

Human rights defender Anar Mammadli was jailed for 13 years today. This is a damning indictment of democratic decline in Azerbaijan. 🇦🇿 He must be released.

ICYMI: Former Index colleague Andrei Aliaksandrau was nominated for a media freedom award. Please see our full reaction from CEO Jemimah Steinfeld:

We are delighted to hear that our former colleague Andrei Aliaksandrau has been recognised by @frittord.bsky.social and Zeit Stiftung Bucerius as a recipient of the Free Media Awards for 2026. Andrei remains imprisoned in Belarus. frittord.no/en/news/free...

Reports that a drone struck one of Kyiv's universities while over 160 students were inside are unconscionable. This is yet another attack on free expression by #Russia. united24media.com/war-in-ukrai...