Syrian rebel groups like FSA, Ahrar Al-Sham, Al-Nosra, Hamza Division, Sultan Murad Division, Jaysh al-Islam, Al-Qaeda and Israel have been ranked as part of the top 10 hostage-takers of journalists worldwide.
The chilling ranking, in the annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024 Round-Up, also contains statistics of over 500 journalists detained, 54 killed, 55 held hostage and 95 missing as of December 2024.
The report underscores a distressing truth which Thibaut Bruttin, the Director General of RSF succinctly put that “journalists don’t simply die—they are killed. They are deliberately targeted as inconvenient witnesses, pawns in political games, or silenced for exposing uncomfortable truths.”
The Gaza Strip emerged as the most perilous zone for journalists in 2024, according to the report. Since October 2023, over 145 journalists have been killed in this region, with at least 35 confirmed as deliberate targets.
The Israeli armed forces bear responsibility for a third of journalist deaths worldwide this year. Their actions—including airstrikes that blatantly violated international law—exemplify the systemic targeting of media personnel. This year alone, Gaza accounted for nearly 30% of journalist fatalities globally, earning it the grim distinction of being the deadliest place for journalists.
Elsewhere, the dangers faced by journalists were no less severe. In Sudan, reporters were caught in the crossfire of brutal military conflicts, while in Pakistan, freelance journalist Kamran Dawar’s assassination highlighted the perils of covering social issues. Meanwhile, Mexico continued to grapple with gang violence, claiming the lives of five journalists despite state protection measures. Bangladesh saw five reporters killed during violent crackdowns on protests, reflecting the systemic targeting of the press during political upheaval.
Detention figures reached alarming levels, with a 7.2% increase compared to 2023. China remained the largest jailer of journalists, followed by Myanmar, Israel, and Belarus. Israel’s detainment of 41 journalists, primarily Palestinians, under administrative detention without formal charges, added to its notoriety as the third-largest prison for journalists globally.
Hostage-taking continues to plague war-torn regions, with Syria accounting for 70% of cases. Journalists like Mohamad Al-Mayahi and Fahed al-Arhabi in Yemen were abducted for their reporting, while others remained in captivity years after their initial abduction. The harrowing fates of these journalists serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of seeking truth in regions dominated by conflict and authoritarian regimes.
The report also sheds light on the alarming trend of enforced disappearances. Nearly 100 journalists remain missing worldwide, with Mexico leading the count. These cases underscore the complicity of certain governments in silencing dissent, as enforced disappearances often occur with state support or neglect.
Among the new cases in 2024, Russian forces abducted Ukrainian journalist Zhanna Kyselova, while Burkina Faso witnessed the mysterious disappearance of journalist Alain Traoré. These incidents highlight the systematic erasure of voices that challenge power structures.
The report serves as a powerful reminder that journalists are not collateral damage; they are deliberate targets. Their work, often undertaken in hostile environments, is a testament to the power of information in holding the powerful accountable. From Gaza to Myanmar, these individuals risk their lives daily to inform the public, often facing imprisonment, torture, or death.
Similarly, in Nigeria, statistics of journalists facing harassment, unjust detention or frivolous lawsuits for discharging their duties are replete. Last six months, four journalists, including the founder and Editor-in-chief of Foundation for Investigative Reporting (FIJ) were detained by the Nigeria Police Force two times. The FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, was also detained and held incommunicado by the Nigerian Army during the cause of his work.
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has highlighted over 300 concentrated attacks on journalists, civil society organisations and activists.
Read Also: Nigeria Ranks Partly Free on Global Freedom for Use of Internet, Civic Rights
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