IFJ: 134 Journalists killed while working, most in the Middle East

Posted on January 1st, 2008 by Marian Houk

The Associated Press reported that Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says that “at least 134 journalists were killed in 2007, most in Iraq … The Middle East was by far the deadliest region, with 68 killings in the region, followed by Somalia with eight killed, Pakistan with seven, Mexico and Sri Lanka each with six, and the Philippines with five”… This AP report was published in the JPost here.

The Guardian reported that IFJ president Jim Boumelha said: “Our colleagues have been targeted because of their work, or killed covering dangerous stories often in the rush to cover breaking news … Violence against journalists remains at extremely high levels for the third year in a row. The scale of attacks on journalists marks a continuing crisis filled with unlimited human tragedy and relentless attacks on press freedom.” The Guardian added that: “This year has been the worst year on record for press safety after 2006, where the number of journalists killed while working reached 177. The previous year saw 150 deaths and in 2004, 129 journalists were killed at work. The IFJ will release its full report in mid-January, detailing every journalist that was killed in 2007″. The Guardian story is posted here.

The press release about this forthcoming report posted on the IFJ site said that “The figures have been compiled in co-operation with the International News Safety Institute”. It also said that IFJ president Jim Boumelha “called for more action from the international community to counter impunity and to eliminate fear and danger from the profession of journalism”, and noted that “As usual those most at risk are media staff operating in their home country”…

The IFJ press release also said that “IFJ General Secretary Aidan White, who this week joined a fresh appeal for action over impunity arising out of the United Nations Security Council resolution issued a year ago calling on all governments to confront the crisis of violence against media, said, ‘Many killers of journalists are just getting away with murder. Governments must take these issues seriously. Every case must be investigated. Those responsible must be punished’. White, accompanied by Canadian journalists’ leader Peter Murdoch, and IFJ Middle East Coordinator Monir Zaarour is visiting Baghdad this week to discuss security with IFJ affiliates the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists and the Kurdistan Syndicate of Journalists”.

The IFJ’s press release is here.

An accompanying excel spreadsheet listed all the journlists included in this compilation, including 3 Palestinian journalists, all killed in mid-May.

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