Geneva, Dec 19 (V7N) — The year 2025 has emerged as one of the deadliest for journalists since the start of the century, with 161 media professionals killed across 31 countries, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). The Middle East remained the most affected region, particularly the Gaza Strip, where at least 60 journalists were killed, almost all victims of Israeli strikes. Since the start of hostilities triggered by Hamas on October 7, 2023, at least 221 Palestinian media personnel have been killed in Gaza, including 81 in 2023, 80 in 2024, and 60 in 2025.

The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia claimed the lives of nine journalists, including three Ukrainians, one French journalist Antoni Lallican, and five Russians killed by Ukrainian fire along border regions. Blaise Lempen, PEC president, highlighted the increasing dangers posed by ultra-fast drones that restrict access to conflict zones, putting war reporters at heightened risk.

By region, 87 journalists were killed in the Middle East, 25 in Latin America, 22 in Asia, 15 in Africa, 10 in Europe, and 2 in the United States. Two-thirds of the victims (108) were killed in areas of armed conflict. Yemen recorded 15 deaths, including 13 in an Israeli attack on September 10. Mexico continued to be dangerous due to drug-related violence, with nine media deaths. Sudan witnessed at least eight journalist fatalities amid ongoing clashes.

Other affected countries include India (6), Ecuador (5), Pakistan (5), Bangladesh (4), Iran (4), the Philippines (4), Peru (3), Syria (3), Afghanistan (2), Colombia (2), Honduras (2), Iraq (2), Lebanon (2), Nigeria (2), Democratic Republic of Congo (2), United States (2), and one each in Brazil, Guatemala, Haiti, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tanzania, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

PEC emphasized impunity as a major concern, noting that lack of independent investigations and prosecutions has allowed these crimes to increase. The organization supports recommendations from the Doha conference on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts, calling for the establishment of a UN-backed international commission and an internationally recognized press emblem. PEC also noted the rising number of requests for asylum from persecuted journalists, particularly from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Syria, Turkey, and Sudan, and expressed concern over systematic rejections of such applications.

In South and Southeast Asia, India lost six journalists, including Mukesh Chandrakar (NDTV, Bastar, Chhattisgarh), Raghavendra Vajpayee (Dainik Jagran, Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh), Sahadev Dey (Republic Andaman, Diglipur, Andaman), Dharmendra Singh Chauhan (Fast News India, Gurugram, Haryana), Naresh Kumar (Times Odia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha), and Rajeev Pratap Singh (Delhi Uttarakhand Live, Uttarakhand). Pakistan recorded five journalist deaths, including AD Shar (Hum News, Khairpur), Abdul Latif (Daily Intekhab/Aaj News, Awaran), Syed Mohammed Shah (Ab-Tak TV, Jacobabad), Imtiaz Mir (Metro One News, Karachi), and Tufail Rind (Royal News, Ghotki).

Bangladesh saw four media deaths: Assaduzzaman Tuhin (Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj, Gazipur), Bibhuranjan Sarkar (Ajker Patrika, Munshiganj), Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu (Dainik Ajker Kagoj, Dhaka), and Khandahar Shah Alam (Dainik Matrijagat, Dhaka). The Philippines, which had only one journalist casualty last year, recorded four deaths: Juan Johny Dayang (Philippine Graphic Magazine, Aklan), Erwin Labitad Segovia (Radio WOW FM, Bislig City), Noel Bellen Samar (DWTZ, Guinabatan), and Gerry Campos (Barangay Sta. Cruz, Surigao del Sur). Afghanistan lost two journalists: Abdul Ghafoor Abid (Paktia National Radio Television, Khost) and Abdul Zahir Safi (state-run media, Kabul). Nepal recorded the death of Suresh Rajak (Avenues TV, Kathmandu), while Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia had no journalist casualties in 2025.

PEC underlined that it counts all journalist deaths regardless of direct professional activity, highlighting the urgent need for independent investigations and protection measures for media personnel in conflict zones.

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