THIRTY-FIVE KILLINGS SINCE NOVEMBER 2008

In the 12 months between the 15 November 2008, last year’s International PEN Day of the Imprisoned Writer, and today, PEN has recorded 35 murders of journalist and editors working in print and online. Almost 40% of the killings happened in just two countries: Russia, where seven journalists were killed, and Mexico, where six were murdered. Pakistan and India both saw four murders in 2008 and 2009. Other countries where killings occurred are Honduras, where two people were murdered, and in Kenya, Sri Lanka, Congo (Brazzaville), Indonesia, Iran, Philippines, Kyrgystan, Nigeria and Afghanistan. Nearly all those killed had been reporting on corruption in government, or on the activities of criminals, notably drugs related. In Russia, three had commented on the situation in Chechnya.

It is rare for those who kill journalists and writers to be brought to prosecution, leading to the conclusion that troublesome critics can be killed with impunity. PEN is calling for full, proper and impartial investigations into the deaths of all those who have been killed in the course of their professions as writers, journalists and human rights defenders.

For an overview and statistics of killings of journalists world wide since 1992, visit the Committee to Protect Journalists website: http://www.cpj.org/killed/.