Protect Journalists. Protect Democracy.
Journalists uncover truth and hold the powerful to account. They bring us critical news and information that makes our societies safer and our democracies stronger.
But their work comes at great risk. Journalism today is one of the world's most dangerous professions.
More than 900 journalists and media workers have been killed in the past decade. That’s an average of nearly 96 each year — or almost two journalists every week.
This year alone as many as 70 journalists and media workers have been killed worldwide, with Mexico, Ukraine, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Haiti among the deadliest countries for the press. Even in established democracies in the EU and the United States, journalists have been targeted and killed.
In the vast majority of cases, those responsible go unpunished. Impunity for these crimes fuels further violence, weakens democracy, and harms everyone’s right to the truth.
On November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we call attention to 11 key cases of journalists who have been killed with full or partial impunity.
We stand with their families and colleagues to demand full justice for these crimes.
Photo courtesy of the Media Foundation for West Africa
Photo courtesy of the Media Foundation for West Africa
Ahmed Hussein-Suale
Ghana | Murdered in 2019
Investigative journalist who worked to uncover corruption and human rights abuses in Africa.
Hussein-Suale was shot dead on January 16, 2019, in Accra, Ghana. At the time, he was part of an investigation team with the Tiger Eye news outlet that revealed corruption in African football right before the World Cup. Authorities have made no progress in this investigation.
Photo courtesy of ChristopherAllen.org
Photo courtesy of ChristopherAllen.org
Christopher Allen
Killed in South Sudan in 2017
British-American freelance journalist and photographer who covered war and conflict for various international news outlets.
Allen was killed on August 26, 2017 during clashes at the South Sudan-Uganda border while he was embedded with rebel troops. Independent reports have suggested that Allen may have been directly targeted by South Sudanese soldiers despite indications he was a journalist. However, South Sudanese authorities have refused to open an official investigation.
Photo credit: Pippa Zammit Cutajar
Photo credit: Pippa Zammit Cutajar
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Malta | Murdered in 2017
Investigative journalist and blogger who reported extensively on high-level corruption and organized crime in Malta.
Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb on October 16, 2017, close to her home in Bidnija, Malta. She had filed a police report two weeks earlier about receiving death threats.
In October 2022, two hitmen pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 40 years in prison. The alleged mastermind is currently awaiting trial.
Photo courtesy of Kavita Lankesh
Photo courtesy of Kavita Lankesh
Gauri Lankesh
India | Murdered in 2017
Journalist and editor of a Kannada weekly and vocal critic of Hindu nationalism and far-right politics in India.
Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Bangalore on September 5, 2017. Her murder sparked nationwide protests, compelling authorities to open a special investigation. Eighteen people have been arrested in connection with this crime and the prosecution's case links them to far-right Hindu terror groups. After years of stalled proceedings, a trial began in July 2022.
Giorgos Karaivaz
Greece | Murdered in 2021
Investigative journalist who often reported on organized crime for the TV channel STAR, and wrote a blog focused on crime and policing.
On April 9, 2021, Karaivaz was gunned down by two men on a scooter outside his home in Athens in broad daylight. Police said that the professional style of the hit indicated the involvement of organized crime. The Greek authorities have not announced any progress in the investigation.
Photo credit: Juma Mbaruco
Photo credit: Juma Mbaruco
Ibraimo Mbaruco
Mozambique | Disappeared in 2020
Reporter for Rádio Comunitária de Palma, a community radio station in northern Mozambique.
Mbaruco disappeared in April 2020 while covering the conflict in Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. His last communication was a text message sent to a colleague saying he was “surrounded by soldiers”. Mozambican authorities have produced no findings on Mbaruco's fate.
Photo: April Brady/Project on Middle East Democracy
Photo: April Brady/Project on Middle East Democracy
Jamal Khashoggi
Murdered in Turkey in 2018
Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist, often critical of the Saudi regime and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Khashoggi was murdered on October 2, 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. U.N. and U.S. investigations found that the murder was orchestrated by high-level Saudi officials, including the crown prince. In 2020, a Saudi court convicted a group of individuals for this murder in a closed trial that did not meet fair trial standards and failed to hold the masterminds to account. In 2022, Turkey transferred its proceedings in the case to Saudi Arabia, further closing the door to justice.
Photo courtesy of Aktuality
Photo courtesy of Aktuality
Ján Kuciak
Slovakia | Murdered in 2018
Investigative journalist with news site Aktuality who had been covering corruption and tax fraud involving prominent business and political figures.
Kuciak and his fiancée were shot dead in their home in a village near Bratislava on February 21, 2018. A massive public outcry over these murders led to the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico. While the hitmen have since been convicted and sentenced, the mastermind has yet to face justice.
Photo credit: Alberto Morales Garcia
Photo credit: Alberto Morales Garcia
Regina Martínez Pérez
Mexico | Murdered in 2012
Crime reporter for the national magazine Proceso who reported on drug cartels, organized crime, and political corruption.
On April 28, 2012, Martínez was strangled to death after being beaten inside her home in Veracruz. The investigation into her murder was marked by numerous irregularities. Authorities claimed Martínez was the victim of a robbery. While a potential suspect confessed to the crime, he later retracted this statement saying it was coerced. Ten years after her murder, the authorities have failed to reopen the case.
Photo courtesy of Fauiza Dahar
Photo courtesy of Fauiza Dahar
Shan Dahar
Pakistan | Murdered in 2014
Bureau chief for Abb Takk Television channel in the Larkana district of Pakistan’s Sindh province.
Dahar was shot in the back on January 1, 2014. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained unattended for many hours. An initial police investigation claimed the death was the result of stray gunfire, but Dahar’s colleagues and family believe he was targeted for his journalistic work. At the time of the murder, Dahar was working on a report relating to the unauthorized sale of medicines in the area.
Photo: Al Jazeera
Photo: Al Jazeera
Shireen Abu Akleh
Killed in Palestine in 2022
Palestinian-American journalist who worked for Al Jazeera. Known for her fearless reporting on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Abu Akleh was killed by a gunshot to the head while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank on May 11, 2022. She was wearing a jacket clearly marked “PRESS”. While initially denying responsibility, the Israeli government has since admitted there was a "high possibility" that Abu Akleh was hit by its forces, but claims this was accidental and refuses to pursue any further investigation.
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