The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has united with the UK and Ireland’s National Union of Journalists (NUJ) to condemn the arrest of British journalist Richard Medhurst under anti-terror legislation. The IFJ, representing over 600,000 media workers in 146 countries, expressed “grave concern” about the crackdown on journalists and activists. The NUJ and IFJ emphasized the significance of Medhurst’s arrest, calling it a threat to media freedom worldwide. They urged the government to use anti-terror powers proportionately and not suppress press freedom.
Medhurst, known for his coverage on the Gaza conflict and criticism of Western foreign policy, was detained at Heathrow Airport and questioned for almost 24 hours. He believes his arrest was politically motivated and hinders his journalistic work. Despite his controversial views on various conflicts, including support for Bashar Al-Assad, Medhurst’s arrest highlights the growing concern over press freedom and the targeting of journalists for their reporting.