42 Journalists killed worldwide in 2017

At least 42 journalists were killed from around the world in 2017, between February 3- November 21, while doing their jobs, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

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The figures show that Iraq and Syria were the most dangerous countries for journalists this year. Eight journalists were killed in Iraq in 2017. Iraq followed by Syria, where seven journalists were killed. Mexico and India were also among the deadliest countries for journalists.

The CPJ said 17 of the journalists killed in 2017 died in crossfire while covering war in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Other 17 were murdered in countries including Mexico, Malta, Russia and the Philippines. 

A Syrian journalist Qays al-Qadi, who worked for AI-Jist, an Istanbul-based TV channel, is among them. Al-Qadi, who was in his twenties, was killed in a shelling by Syrian regime forces on October 29 in Damascus Province. His colleague, cameraman Omar Damashky, was injured and taken to hospital following the attack.

The war zones, especially Syria, has always been dangerous for journalists to cover since there is a risk of shelling or being arrested or kidnapped. As a result, media experts and observes say that number of professional journalists reporting from Syria has been declined while activists and amateurs remained in the field. 7 journalists were killed in Syria in 2017, CPJ figures showed. In 2016, though, the figure was 14.

Mexico is also one of the worst countries in the world for journalists, with 89 journalists killed since 1992. Among them were Javier Valdez and Miroslava Breach, internationally renowned reporters who were investigating government corruption and organized crime. 

On October 16, a Maltese journalist who led the Panama Papers investigation into corruption in Malta was killed in a car bomb attack close to her home. Daphne Caruana Galizia was famous for covering cases of corruption in Malta, and was described by Politico Europe as a "one-woman Wikileaks". The 53-year old woman also ran a popular blog where she posted her findings of corruption. Galizia was an critic of Maltese Prime Minister Josef Muscat. She was also committed to exposing others, including the mafia and money laundering industry. According to police reports, Galizia was receiving death threats shortly before she was killed.  Ten suspects were arrested in connection with her murder, but the perpetrator remains unknowns.

The number of journalists killed in 2017 is slightly lower than previous years, down from 48 in 2016. The figure is decreasing year by year: 72 journalists were killed in 2015.

               

According to CPJ, 1782 journalists have been killed around the world since 1992. The worst countries for journalists have always been Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, 264 journalists have lost their lives since 1992, while 116 journalists have been killed in Syria. Iraq and Syria are followed by Mexico, where 89 journalists have been killed. Russia is also among one of the deadliest countries for journalists: 80 journalists have been murdered there since 1992.   

The Committee to Protects Journalists has been recording deaths and arrests among media workers around the world since 1992. The list doesn’t include deaths of illness or car or plane accident, unless caused by hostile action.