Afghanistan, World’s Deadliest Country for Journalists: RSF
Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Mexico, and America are among the deadliest countries for journalists, according to a report released by reporters without borders (RSF).
Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Mexico, and America are among the deadliest countries for journalists, according to a report released by reporters without borders (RSF).
A total of 80 journalists were killed this year, 348 are currently in prison, and 60 are being held hostage, according to the annual worldwide round-up of deadly violence and abusive treatment of journalists released by RSF on 18 Dec., which shows an unprecedented level of hostility towards media personnel.
The RSF round-up figures have risen in all categories. Murders, imprisonment, hostage-taking and disappearances have all increased.
More than half of the journalists killed in 2018 were deliberately targeted.
“Violence against journalists has reached unprecedented levels this year, and the situation is now critical,” RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said. “The hatred of journalists that is voiced, and sometimes very openly proclaimed, by unscrupulous politicians, religious leaders and businessmen has tragic consequences on the ground, and has been reflected in this disturbing increase in violations against journalists.
Afghanistan was the world’s deadliest country for journalists in 2018, with 15 killed. It was followed by Syria, with 11 killed, and Mexico, the deadliest country outside a conflict zone, with nine journalists murdered in 2018, the report said.
The fatal shooting of five media employees in June brought the United States into the ranks of the deadliest countries.
The number of journalists detained worldwide at the end of the year – 348 – is up from 326 at this time last year, the report added.
As in 2017, more than half of the world’s imprisoned journalists are being held in just five countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. China remains the world’s biggest jailer of journalists with 60 currently held, according to the report.
The number of journalists currently held hostage – 60 – is 11 percent higher than this time last year.
2018 has been marked by the number of journalists in all categories who were killed in connection with their work.
