CPJ: Syria the country the most dangerous for journalists

CPJ: Syria the country the most dangerous for journalists

Syria entered the Group of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, according to the Organization of the defenders of the rights of journalists who are based in the us, Wednesday, when publishing the annual track impunity index cases of unresolved murders of journalists.

The Committee to protect journalists (CPJ) based in New York that reported "an increase in the number of targeted assassination" on journalists in Syria as a new threat on journalists operating in the war-torn country.

"With the number of kidnappings is unprecedented and high rates of death in battle and firefight, Syria is already entered in the Group of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists," said CPJ, as reported to AFP.

Iraq remained on the top of that list with the worst record for the settlement of the case of murder of journalists. Somalia is in second place and the third position is the Philippines, according to the watchdog.

Iraq, with a 100 per cent impunity in 100 cases, are in the ranking list since the survey was started in 2008.

Since then, 2011 is the first year there are no journalists were killed in connection with their work in Iraq, but in 2013 occurred surges to 10 cases of killings of journalists, nine of whom were killed, the CPJ said.

There are four new murder case in Somalia by 2013.

"The armed rebel group has been terrorizing the media beyond the reach of the legal institutions of Somalia's fragile, but the Government has also failed to investigate an attack by other sources adequately," said CPJ.

List of Impunity that count the number of murder cases unsolved journalist with the percentage of the population of a country.

Only countries with five or more unsolved cases are included in the index. This year, the 13 countries that meet the criteria while last year the 12 countries, CPJ said.

The watchdog agency said 96 percent of the victims were local journalists, mostly covering political issues, corruption and war.

Here is a list of the 13 countries where at least five journalists have been assassinated in the 2004-2013 without any offender who is convicted.

The number in brackets refers to the number of murders in 2013 unless otherwise stated.

1. Iraq 100 (+ 9)

2. Somalia 26 (4)

3. Philippines 51 (+ 3)

4. Sri Lanka 9

5. Syria 7 since 2012

6. Afghanistan 5

7. Mexico 16 16

8. Colombia 6 (1)

9. Pakistan 22

10. Russia 2 (+ 2)

11. Brazil 9 (+ 3)

12. Nigeria 5 since 2009

13. India 7 (+ 2)