Lawless Mexico was the “world’s deadliest” for professional reporters this year, with nine journalists killed often as police looked the other way or helped, according to a new report from a watchdog group.
While more reporters died in war-torn nations like Syria and Afghanistan, where several indiscriminate bombings kill many, in Mexico the journalists were singled out and in some cases tracked down, tortured and murdered, one in front of his family, according to Reporters Without Borders in their Round-Up 2016 report.
Report from Reporters Without Borders details many of the slayings of journalists.
“This year, Mexico has been the world’s deadliest country for professional journalists, who were the victims of violence by not only criminal cartels but also by police and government officials, among whom corruption is widespread,” said the group on Monday.
Globally, 74 reporters were killed in 2016. The number is lower than the 101 killed in 2015, but that is because so many journalists have fled violence-wracked countries like Syria.
“But the fall is not encouraging because it is due largely to the fact many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi. These exoduses have created news and information black holes where impunity reigns,” said the group.
“The fall is also the result of the terror imposed by press freedom predators who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists,” they added.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
