Tyrant of the Year Archives - Index on Censorship

Tyrant of the year 2025: Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada

The Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law regulations introduced this year are some of the most repressive anywhere

The Turkish leader is no stranger to authoritarian tactics

No one is safe it seems from the self-proclaimed Father of the Nation

The control of online speech is seen as a guarantor of political dominance, both for the party and its leader

A further crackdown on dissent this year continues the Supreme Leader’s bloody rule

Some argue that Israel has crossed into authoritarianism under the country’s prime minister

Hong Kong has gone from one of the most open cities in Asia to one of its least

El Salvador has the highest prisoner rate worldwide and the president likes it that way

Magufuli the Bulldozer’s successor is turning out to be more of the same

Choose from our shortlist of 10 authoritarian leaders and vote on who you think has done most to crack down on freedom of expression this year