Deadly year for journalists – 57 newsmen and 9 bloggers killed in 2016

By Raza Ruman

(Pak Destiny) 2016 is the deadliest year again for journalists as 57 and nine bloggers have been killed in the world mostly in Syria and Pakistan’s neighbouring Afghanistan.

According to Reporters Without Borders, 19 were killed in Syria, 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq. Almost all of those killed were locally-based journalists.
In 2015, 67 killed journalists were killed. Withdrawal of reporters from these conflict-ridden countries had created “news and information black holes where impunity reigns,” RWB said, adding the fall in deaths was also the result of the “terror” imposed by what it called “press freedom predators” who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists.
It said in countries such as Mexico, this led to journalists self-censoring to avoid being murdered, the group said in its annual report. In Afghanistan, all of the 10 journalists killed were deliberately targeted because of their profession.
Seven, including three women, were killed in a suicide attack in January on a minibus used by privately-owned Tolo TV. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
Yemen, where more than 7,000 people have been killed since 2015 in a war pitting Saudi-backed regime forces against Huthi rebels, was another a black spot for journalists with five killed.
Pakistan is also a deadly place for journalists. – Pak Destiny

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