After Mexico, Afghanistan and India two deadliest countries for journalists: IPI report

A total of 45 journalists were killed in connection with their work or while they were on assignment in the last 12 months across the globe, according to a report released by the International Press Institute. The report pointed out that Asia and the Pacific was the deadliest region for journalists in 2021, with 18 killings﹘most of which occurred in India and Afghanistan at six fatalities each.

Like last year, more journalists were killed in Mexico in 2021 than any other country in the world, and all the seven deaths in the country were targeted killings, according to the yearly IPI ‘Death Watch’ published on Wednesday. “After Mexico, Afghanistan and India are the two next-deadliest countries, with six killings each,” it stated.

“Of the six journalists who lost their lives in India, two were targeted due to work, like Chennakesavulu, who was stabbed to death by a suspended police officer after he discovered the officer’s involvement in a gambling and tobacco smuggling ring. Another two cases are classified as under investigation (potential targeted killings). One journalist was killed while on assignment, while another was killed while covering civil unrest,” it stated.

The report further stated how in several cases where arrests were made there was a lack of confidence in the investigation that was carried out. In this regard, the report cites the death of Sudarshan TV journalist Manish Kumar Singh who was killed on August 10, and whose editor Suresh Chavhanke had tweeted that the journalist’s family believed that the suspects detained by the police were not the real culprits.

Of the 45 deaths across the globe, 28 were targeted killings, the report stated. “Even this figure must be interpreted with caution, given that state investigations into journalist killings – insofar as they occur at all – are often deeply flawed and in some cases result in further miscarriages of justice, including arrests of innocent suspects.”

Commenting on the response of authorities, the report stated, “IPI’s analysis shows an alarmingly insufficient response from authorities to the killings, leading to high levels of impunity for crimes against journalists.”

The report said that journalists were also murdered in countries with relatively high levels of press freedom, which arguably shows the global nature of the risks of doing journalism. “Crime journalist Peter R De Vries was shot on an Amsterdam city street in broad daylight on July 6, 2021, despite the fact that the Netherlands is considered one of the countries with the highest degree of press freedom in the world. The De Vries case is currently classified as Under Investigation on IPI’s Death Watch. In Greece, crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz was shot outside his home in Athens. As of December 2021, no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been made, while public information about the status of the investigation remains scarce,” it stated.

The numbers include the names of journalists, editors, reporters, and media workers. “The sombre tally reflects the continued risks of doing journalism and reaffirms journalist safety as a global challenge.”

Calling for action against such incidents, IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said, “Impunity for such killings fuels violence against the media at a time when the free flow of news is more important than ever…states must do more to solve attacks on journalists.”