RSF reveals numbers of journalists dead and detainees, 44 captives in Syria
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – On Thursday,Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said worldwide in 2021, a total of 46 media workers were killed and 488 were detained and in connection with their work.
In a report posted on its official website, RSF, said “the number of detained journalists has never been such a high since the establishment of the annual index by RSF in 1995.”
This 20% exceptional increase is a result of practices of three countries, mainly: China, Belarus and Burma, the report noted.
60 female journalists were arrested which is the third percentage compared to 2020 index.
The five states reported the highest number of detainees journalists starting December are: China 127, Burma 53, Vietnam 43, Belarus 32 and Saudi Arabia 31.
The number of journalists killed in connection with their work – 46 from 1 January to 1 December in 2021, the least level since 20 years ago, RSF said.
This year’s fall is mostly due to a decline in the intensity of conflicts in Iraq, Yemen and Syria between 2012 and 2016, RSF noted.
The top countries ranked dangerous for journalists are Mexico and Afghanistan then Yemen and India. 7 journalists were killed in Mexico and 6 in Afghanistan. 4 killed in each Yemen and Indian.
At least, 65 journalists are captives worldwide in 2021 where in 2020 they were 63.
All the captives are held in three countries in the Middle East: 44 in Syria, 11 in Iraq, and 9 in Yemen. In addition to the French journalist Olivier Dubois who was abducted in Mali in April.