21 journalists killed worldwide this year: CPJ

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 21 journalists, including six Afghans media workers, have been killed so far in 2020 worldwide. The fatalities are 55 percent higher than last year.

The International Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in its annual report for 2020 that 21 journalists were killed in the line of duty around the world. Last year, 10 media professionals had been killed.

According to the report, as of December 1, 2020, 274 journalists had been jailed globally, up from 250 in 2019.

The ICPJ noted attacks on journalists had recently intensified in Afghanistan, where at least four active journalists and a former TV presenter killed in the past two months.

The latest attack in Afghanistan resulted in the killing of Rahmatullah Nekzad in Ghazni, who was shot dead with a silent pistol. The attackers managed to escape.

Earlier, Malalai Maiwand was killed in Nangarhar, Elyas Dai in Helmand and Karim Amini in Kabul.

Iqbal Khattak, a member of Reporters Without Borders said after the fall of the Taliban government, journalists were allowed to work freely, But problems recently increased for media workers in the country.

Debra Leon, the UN special envoy and head of UNAMA, called Afghanistan the most dangerous country for journalists.

According to her, six journalists and 11 human rights activists have been killed in Afghanistan in 2020.

bk/mud