The organization Women Journalists Without Chains has released a new report titled “The Future of Press Freedom in Libya: Navigating a Minefield in Darkness,” highlighting the major challenges facing press freedom in Libya.

The report warns that the current conditions are regressing to restrictions similar to those seen during the Gaddafi era, indicating an almost total absence of press freedom.

The report is divided into three main sections. The first chapter examines the legal and regulatory frameworks governing press freedom in Libya, pointing out the lack of effective laws protecting press freedom, the continued use of outdated laws that criminalize free expression, and the existence of new legislation with vague provisions that can be misinterpreted to harm journalists. with vague provisions that can be misinterpreted to harm journalists.

The second chapter documents violations against journalists from 2014 to 2024, with 550 documented violations, including incidents of murder, kidnapping, and harassment. Risks for journalists have intensified due to political division and the rising influence of armed groups.

The third chapter reveals how political division has fueled hate speech and the spread of misinformation, with media outlets becoming tools of propaganda for various factions in the conflict. This exacerbates insecurity and undermines public trust in independent journalism, which has largely been sidelined over the past decade, alongside a weakened role for civil society organizations.

Click here to read and download the report