Tajikistan Limits Free Speech And Press Freedom

In Tajikistan in 2025, freedom of expression was very limited. The government continued to punish journalists and critics who spoke out against leaders or reported independently. Some journalists were jailed for many years after secret trials, and others were accused of crimes with no clear public evidence. A planned conference for women journalists was cancelled [...]

Eritrean Priest Held Two Decades Without Charge

Gebremedhin Gebregergis, an Eritrean Orthodox priest, has been imprisoned for more than twenty years in Eritrea without any charge or trial. He was arrested on 19 November 2004 together with two other Christians. Since then, they have been held at the Central Criminal Investigation Centre in Wengel Mermera, a prison known for harsh conditions. Reports [...]

Kim Ju-Ae’s Path To Power In North Korea

Speculation is growing about who will eventually succeed Kim Jong Un as the leader of North Korea. Many analysts believe he may be preparing his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, to become the next ruler of the Kim dynasty. She first appeared in public in 2022 during a missile test and has since attended many events with [...]

Suspicious Death Of Lao Government Critic

Human rights groups are calling on the government of Laos to investigate the suspicious death of government critic Sisay Luangmonda. The 32-year-old activist, who often criticized corruption and poor governance online, was reported missing by his family on February 14, 2026. Witnesses said soldiers arrested him near the capital, Vientiane, and took him to Phonthan [...]

Vietnam Restricts Religious Freedom

The government has full control over the freedom of religion and belief in the country. Religious organizations must register with the government and operate under the management of government-appointed management boards. If they refuse, the government considers them to be ‘evil religions.’ The police keep a close eye on such religious groups, investigate their activities, [...]

North Korea Prepares For Key Party Congress

North Korea is preparing for its 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party, a major political meeting held once every five years. During this congress, leader Kim Jong Un plans to announce new military, nuclear, and foreign policy goals for the country. State media reports that dozens of new rocket launchers were displayed ahead of the [...]

Houthis Arrest Dozens Of Christians In Yemen

Houthi authorities in Yemen have arbitrarily arrested over 20 Christians in the past three months. Many were taken from their homes or the streets without arrest warrants, and most have not been able to contact their families. Some detainees have health conditions that require medical care, but it is unclear if they are receiving it. [...]

Saudi Arabia Cracks Down On Free Speech

In Saudi Arabia, freedom of expression is tightly controlled and often punished by the authorities. The government uses broad laws against terrorism and cybercrime to arrest, detain, and prosecute people for peaceful speech online or in public, including activists, writers, and social media users. Some people have been imprisoned for posting views on women’s rights [...]

Brunei’s Civic Space Remains Repressed

Civic space in Brunei is rated as “repressed” by the CIVICUS Monitor, with no clear progress on basic freedoms. Brunei is an absolute monarchy where the Sultan holds full executive power under a long-standing state of emergency declared in 1962. There are no national elections and no legal protection for freedom of speech, assembly, or [...]

North Korea’s Harsh Rule And Inequality

North Korea is one of the most oppressive states in the world, and it continued its repression in 2025. The state had strict regulations about various aspects of the lives of citizens. The censuring, surveillance, and control of markets had become stricter. The citizens lacked food and had to bear the high cost of even the [...]

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