Pakistan most dangerous country for jourlists

Brussels, December 31: The most dangerous country for jourlists is Pakistan, where 14 media persons lost their lives in 2014, the Intertiol Federation of Jourlists (IFJ) said on Wednesday. An IFJ statement said that with 35 killings, the Asia Pacific region was the most dangerous region for jourlists and media staff in the world for a second consecutive year. The Middle East is the second most dangerous region with 31 fatalities followed by Americas with 26. Africa came fourth (17 killings) and Europe reported nine deaths. The Federation said the figures were a reminder of the gravity of the safety crisis in the media and urged governments to ensure the safety and protection of jourlists. It cited the brutal public beheading of jourlists including US freelancers James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State as a game changer. IFJ president Jim Boumelha said: “Failure to improve media safety will adversely impact the coverage of war which will be poorer for lack of independent witnesses.” The IFJ said another cause for killing of jourlists in 2014 was the reckless attacks on them in conflict zones like Ukraine, Syria and the Gaza Strip.  (IANS)