At least 63 journalists around the world were killed doing their jobs in 2018, with Afghanistan being the deadliest place for journalists worldwide, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Tuesday.
The Paris-based organization, which advocates for freedom of the press around the world, reported violence against reporters rose 15 percent compared to 2017.
If all media workers and citizen journalists who were killed globally were included, the number of fatalities increased to 80.
“The hatred of journalists that is voiced … by unscrupulous politicians, religious leaders and businessmen has tragic consequences on the ground, and has been reflected in this disturbing increase in violations against journalists,” RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement.
The group said in its annual report that Afghanistan was the world’s deadliest country for journalists in 2018, with 15 deaths, followed by Syria with 11 journalists killed in the country this year.
Deadliest country
The increased fatalities among journalists in Afghanistan is due in part to bombings and shootings that targeted media workers.
In April, a double bombing in Kabul killed nine journalists, including six Radio Free Europe reporters.
The Islamic State (IS) terror group claimed responsibility for those attacks, which they said deliberately targeted journalists.
