A total of 63 journalists and five of their assistants were killed carrying out their work last year, the highest number for a decade. Iraq remains the most dangerous country for media workers, with 29 journalists and assistants killed there in 2005.
China tops the poll as the country in which the most journalists are in prison and Nepal has the highest annotated total of censorship, according to the annual report on press freedom published on Wednesday by the Paris-based organisation, Reporters sans Frontières.
Since the start of hostilities in Iraq in March 2003, 76 journalists and their assistants — interpreters and drivers — have been killed. While the majority died in explosions and attacks by insurgents, the US army is listed as responsible for three deaths.
The Philippines, with seven deaths, is the country with the second highest total of media fatalities. There were at least two media deaths in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Russia, Somalia and Sri Lanka. Two journalists died in Mexico investigating drug smuggling and petrol racketeering.
There have also been many physical attacks on journalists doing their work in Nigeria and Peru. Reporters sans Frontières says there were more than 50 incidents of media workers being beaten up by police, military or henchmen of local politicians.
With 32 journalists jailed, China has the worst record for imprisoning reporters. The survey also suggests that China jails most ”cyber-dissidents”, with 62 behind bars for producing independent news websites or blogs. At least 807 journalists were arrested worldwide.
The death total is the highest since 1995, when 64 journalists were killed, 22 in Algeria. More journalists have died in Iraq than were killed in the Vietnam war between 1955 and 1975.
Elections have led to a rise in attacks on journalists, the survey finds. There were dozens of attacks on reporters covering votes or demonstrations in Egypt and Azerbaijan last year. Iran and Tunisia were most notable for blocking internet access, and Iran arrested the highest number of bloggers. – Guardian Unlimited Â