53 journalists killed worldwide so far in 2018

NEW YORK (AP):

The number of journalists killed worldwide in retaliation for their work nearly doubled this year, according to an annual report by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The New York-based organisation found that 34 journalists were killed in retaliation for their work as of December 14, while at least 53 were killed overall.

That compares to 18 retaliatory killings among the 47 deaths documented by the committee in 2017.

The report, issued on Wednesday, includes the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a native of Saudi Arabia fiercely critical of its royal regime.

His October 2 death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has led to tremors on the global political scene around allegations that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved.

Khashoggi lived in self-imposed exile in the US, and had gone to the Saudi consulate to formalise his divorce, but was instead strangled and dismembered allegedly by Saudi agents.

RETALIATory KILLINGS

In addition to retaliatory killings, journalists have died in combat or crossfire, or on other dangerous assignments.

The deadliest country for journalists this year has been Afghanistan, where 13 journalists were killed, some in back-to-back blasts staged by suicide bombers and claimed by the militant group Islamic State, according to the report.

Media freedom group Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday that the US made it into the top five deadliest countries for journalists this year for the first time, with six dying, including four who were among five people killed by a gunman who opened fire in the offices of Maryland newspaper Capital Gazette on June 28.

The shooting was the deadliest single attack on the media in recent US history. A sales associate was also killed. The man had threatened the newspaper after losing a defamation lawsuit. Another two died while covering extreme weather.

In addition, the committee said the imprisonment of journalists has been on the rise.

Time magazine last week recognised jailed and killed journalists as its 'Person of the Year,' including Khashoggi; Maria Ressa, imprisoned in the Philippines; Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, imprisoned in Myanmar; and staff at the Capital Gazette.