Iraq remains most dangerous place for journalists – CPJ

SULAIMANIYA / IraqiNews.com: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said that Iraq tops the list of countries where journalists are killed regularly and governments fail to solve the crimes, considering the country as the most dangerous place for journalists. “Iraq tops the index for the second consecutive year. At least 88 journalists have been murdered since the war began in 2003, and not a single conviction has been obtained in these cases,” said the CPJ in a s report posted on its website. The report includes the 14 countries; Iraq, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Russia, Philippines, India, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, where journalists are murdered on a recurring basis and governments are unable or unwilling to prosecute the killers. The index covers the years 1999 through 2008. “Insurgents and militias are behind the vast majority of killings, while Iraqis working for local media have been the predominant targets,” the report said. “Although the frequency of journalist murders is slowing-nine in 2008, down from 27 in 2007-Iraq remains the most dangerous place to be a journalist,” it added. The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1981. It promotes press freedom worldwide by defending the rights of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. SH (S) 1