Azerbaijan Police Detain Journalist Amid Media Crackdown

Police in Azerbaijan have detained journalist Ulviya Ali on suspicion of smuggling, amid ongoing cases against several colleagues at independent Meydan TV, a move both Ali and other journalists claim is politically motivated and intended to silence critical voices. The Azerbaijani government denies any political motivation and has dismissed Western criticism of the arrests as interference in its judicial system. Reporters Without Borders reports that 24 journalists and media workers are currently detained in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, in India-controlled Kashmir, police detained journalist Hilal Mir for allegedly spreading extremist content and promoting secessionist ideology via social media, with authorities claiming his actions threaten national security. Mir's digital devices were seized, and officials assert he was in contact with foreign-based suspicious numbers, while he remains in preventive detention. Both cases highlight increasing pressure on independent journalists in regions where authorities justify detentions as matters of law and order, while critics argue these are attempts to stifle dissent.