LONDON: The International Federation of Journalists closed its centenary congress in Paris on Thursday with unprecedented Arab representation on the federation’s executive committee, as Saudi Arabia secured its first-ever seat alongside Palestine, Oman, Bahrain and Tunisia.
The gathering marked 100 years since the IFJ’s founding and brought renewed focus on the future of global journalism amid what new president Zuliana Lainez described as an “challenging period” for the profession.
Lainez, the first Latin American to lead the federation, highlighted conflict zones in the Arab world among the most alarming examples, pointing to the toll of wars in Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan where journalists face killing, displacement, detention and near-total obstruction to independent reporting.
“We are in a challenging period for journalism around the world,” she said.
“In recent years, we have seen a staggering number of journalists killed in Palestine, Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan and Latin America, which is unprecedented in history. The levels of impunity for these crimes are also unprecedented. As a global organization, it is our duty to ensure that these crimes are prosecuted in international courts.”
Lainez’s election marks a milestone for Global South representation within international governance structures, recognizing her long-standing dedication to defending labor rights, journalist safety and freedom of expression.
Zuliana Lainez, new president of International Federation of Journalists. (Frédéric Moreau de Bellaing/File)
Only 22 delegates secured seats on the committee, which was contested by representatives from more than 148 countries. Their term will last from 2026 until 2029.
Alongside Lainez’s election, 11 other successful candidates were from the Global South, five of whom were from the Middle East.
The election also saw Nasser Abu Baker, president of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, chosen as senior vice-president, while Zied Dabbar, a member of the executive board of the Tunisian Union of Journalists, was appointed vice president.
Mohamed Al Araimi, president of the Oman Journalists Association, as well as Rashid Al Hamer, Vice President of the Bahrain Journalists Association were also elected to the executive committee.
Adhwan Al-Ahmari, chairman of the Saudi Journalists Association whose election secured Saudi Arabia's first-ever seat on the committee, said the result reflected the confidence of international professional unions in the association, which was founded more than 22 years ago.
“This achievement represents the work of my colleagues on the board of directors and in the general secretariat,” he said. “We have already established an international presence through our presidency of the Executive Office for West Asian Journalists, and today we take that further.”
He said the association would continue working to expand Saudi Arabia’s presence on the international stage.
Adhwan Al-Ahmari (Second left), chairman of the Saudi Journalists Association, with the Saudi delegation at the congress. (Supplied)
During the congress, delegates passed a motion holding Israel accountable for war crimes against journalists in Lebanon and expressing “full support and solidarity” for the Union of Journalists in Lebanon.
Established in 1926, the IFJ is the world’s largest journalists’ organization, representing 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries. Its executive committee helps steer the federation’s priorities and shape its response to issues affecting journalists globally, from press freedom and labor rights to safety in war zones.
The Saudi delegation to the congress was led by Al-Ahmari and included board members Lama Al-Shethry, Mai Al-Sharif and Hamed Al-Shehri.
