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An International Organization: 122 Journalists Killed in 2024

Feb 2, 2026 February 2, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The International Federation of Journalists reported that 122 journalists were killed in 2024, highlighting the need for a UN convention to protect them. The majority of these deaths occurred in the Middle East, particularly among Palestinians. This alarming trend underscores the ongoing dangers faced by journalists worldwide.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The alarming number of journalist deaths in 2024 underscores the urgent need for international protections for press freedom.

👥 Key Players

International Federation of Journalists MENTIONED
Global organization representing journalists
"Advocates for journalists' rights and safety worldwide, highlighting issues that affect press freedom."
Anthony Bellanger MENTIONED
Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists
"Voices the organization's concerns and calls for international action to protect journalists."

📰 What Happened

The International Federation of Journalists reported that 122 journalists were killed in 2024, with a significant number of these deaths occurring in the Middle East. The organization is urging the UN to adopt a convention for journalists' safety.

  • 122 journalists were killed in 2024, including 14 women.
  • 58% of these deaths occurred in the Middle East and the Arab world.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran is part of a region where journalists face significant risks, affecting media freedom and public discourse.
🌍 Regional: High journalist casualties in the Middle East reflect broader regional conflicts and instability.
🌐 International: The call for a UN convention highlights global concerns over press freedom and safety, impacting international diplomatic and human rights agendas.

📚 Background

Journalists globally face increasing threats, particularly in conflict zones like the Middle East, where political tensions and violence are prevalent.

Press freedom Middle East conflicts
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The International Federation of Journalists is a reputable organization focused on journalists' rights, providing credible data on global press safety.

The International Federation of Journalists announced on Tuesday, January 1, that 122 journalists, including 14 women, were killed in 2024. The federation described the previous year as one of the deadliest for journalists and emphasized the importance of adopting an international convention for the protection of journalists by the United Nations. Anthony Bellanger, the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists, stated: "We share the grief of the families and friends of the 122 slain journalists. Behind this high statistic are 122 unfinished stories." He added: "To ensure that the deaths of journalists do not go unpunished and to end this tragedy, we urge UN member states to take action to adopt a binding convention on the safety of journalists." Mr. Bellanger further noted: "The goal of such a convention should be to end the deaths and injuries of journalists, which unfortunately occur every year." According to the final statistics from the International Federation of Journalists published on Tuesday, the last day of 2024, 58% of all journalists killed in 2024 were from the Middle East and the Arab world. In the Middle East and the Arab world, 77 journalists were killed in 2024, including 64 Palestinians, 6 Lebanese, and 1 Syrian. In other parts of the Middle East, the murders of 3 journalists in Iraq, 1 photographer in Syria, and 2 Kurdish journalists in northern Syria were recorded. Additionally, there were 22 deaths in the Asia-Pacific region, 10 in Africa, 9 in the Americas, and 4 in Europe. The report also stated that 516 journalists were imprisoned in 2024, showing a significant increase compared to 2023 (427) and 2022 (375). 2024 has been a challenging year for journalists in the United States, with reports linking the arrest of an Italian journalist in Iran and the arrest of Abedini in Italy, as well as charges against two media activists for allegedly "damaging the psychological security" of society. Dozens of journalists have expressed their "strong opposition" to the mandatory hijab law.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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