The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announced the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, which shows a continued increase in violence and pressure against journalists. In just 2018 alone, at least 80 reporters and journalists have been killed throughout the globe.

Over half the deaths in 2018 happened in Afghanistan, Syria, Mexico, Yemen and India. In the last decade, at least 702 persons who were professional journalists have been killed.

The report stated that the greatest danger to journalists was posed by armed conflicts, but the fact that almost as many journalists have been killed outside conflict zones “points to a horrifying situation”.

The report pointed out that it is possible for both perpetrators and instigators to literally get away with murder, and called on the international public to speak out against shortcomings in the perpetrators facing justice.

The RSF called on the United Nations to appoint a special representative for the protection of journalists.

TURKEY’S RECORD

The report listed Turkey as the country with the 3rd most imprisoned journalists in the world, following China and Egypt.

The report cites 60 imprisoned journalists in China, 38 in Egypt and 33 in Turkey.