Reporters Without Borders: The Number of Journalists Killed in the Past 9 Months Reaches 56

Reporters Without Borders announced that while the total number of journalists killed last year was 55, in just the past 9 months, the number of journalists who have been killed due to their profession has reached 56. In a statement released on Thursday, October 11, the organization emphasized that these 56 are the journalists confirmed to have been killed in connection with their work, but investigations into the deaths of at least 10 more journalists are ongoing. Of the 56 journalists killed this year, 29 were killed in war zones. Afghanistan has been the deadliest country for journalists in the past 9 months, with 13 journalists killed during this period. Of these, 10 were killed in a single day, on April 29, with 9 dying in two simultaneous suicide bombings in Kabul and one later from gunfire by an unknown assailant in Khost province. Among those killed in the Kabul bombings were three journalists from the Afghan branch of Radio Free Europe. Yemen has been the second deadliest country for journalists, with five journalists killed there in the past 9 months. According to Reporters Without Borders, 'journalists in Yemen are either killed in airstrikes or in prison.' In the media freedom index, Yemen ranks 167th out of 180 countries. Anwar al-Ruqn, a Yemeni journalist, died about four months ago just days after being released from Houthi prison. He had spent about a year in Houthi custody, and according to his family, his death was due to torture, the effects of a hunger strike, and being denied access to medical care. In Central Africa, the case of three murdered Russian journalists remains open, and in Somalia, two journalists have also been killed during this period. In the past 9 months, Pakistan, Syria, and the Palestinian territories have each witnessed the killing of two journalists. According to Christophe Deloire, Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders, the statistics of journalists killed in the past 9 months indicate that protective measures for journalists must be increased worldwide. This international organization, based in Paris, has suggested that the United Nations appoint a special representative for journalists, and according to Mr. Deloire, 130 media outlets and organizations related to journalists worldwide have supported this proposal.