11 January 2006
RSF CALLS 2005 DEADLIEST YEAR IN A DECADE
For Reporters Without Borders' (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), 2005 marked the deadliest year for journalists in a decade, with 68 killed and more than 1,300 physically attacked and threatened, according to the group's year-end report.
RSF said 63 journalists and 5 media assistants were killed last year, the highest number since 1995. In 2004, RSF recorded 53 journalists and 15 media assistants killed.
For the third consecutive year, Iraq was the world's most dangerous country for journalists, with 24 journalists and 5 media assistants killed, said RSF. More journalists and media assistants have been killed there since March 2003 than during the 20-year Vietnam War.
World-wide, more journalists were physically attacked and threatened last year than during the previous year, RSF noted, with almost daily occurrences in Bangladesh and Nepal. In 2004, RSF recorded 1,146 attacks and threats.
As of 1 January 2006, 126 journalists and 70 cyber-dissidents were in jail around the world.
To read the full report, visit: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=16088
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