Kathmandu : The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has stated that the incidents of press freedom violation have increased by three fold in 2025 in comparison to the previous year.
The exercise of press freedom has turned further challenging in Nepal owing to the state of impunity on the crime against journalists, weak financial status of media, and rise in the threat to professional and physical safety of journalists, states the press release issued by FNJ General Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal.
According to the monitoring of the umbrella organization of working journalists, a total of 139 anti-press incidents were recorded in 2025.
In the incidents, 118 journalists and media workers as well as 31 media houses were directly affected. Two journalists—Suresh Rajjak of Kathmandu and Ajaya Gorkhali of Chitwan were killed while carrying out their journalistic jobs. In the year 2024, a total of 60 incidents of press freedom violation occurred while it was merely 58 in 2023.
The FNJ has stated that the legal frameworks to stifle the freedom of press and of expression were put forward; tough amendments were made in the Press and Publications Act and undemocratic decision was taken to shut 26 social media platforms, including facebook during the year 2025.
It may be noted that 26 incidents of press freedom breach were documented during the Gen Z uprising on September 8 alone. Over 100 journalists and media house were affected in the violent incidents during and aftermath of the uprising.
According to the FNJ, institutional loss worth around Rs 600 million was incurred due to arson, robbery and vandalism in media house while private property amounting to Rs 180 million was damaged in the incidents. Five journalists sustained injuries in the shootout that took place during the events.
Likewise, FNJ has cautioned all journalists and stakeholders towards possible incidents of press freedom violation in the run-up to the House of Representatives (HoR) elections announced for 5 March 2026.
