UNESCO condemns killing of two Pakistani journalists News
UNESCO condemns killing of two Pakistani journalists
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[JURIST] The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) [official website], Irina Bokova [official profile], on Friday condemned the increasing number of murders of journalists [press release] in Pakistan and urged the government to investigate the crimes. Pakistani journalists Abdul Razaq Gul and Aurengzeb Tunio were recently murdered only a few days apart. Gul’s body reportedly showed signs of torture. Tunio and some of his family were attacked in his office by multiple gunmen. Bokova expressed her concern about the violence against journalists in Pakistan. A total of 27 journalists and media workers have been killed since 2008.

Only two days ago, Bokova expressed her concern [JURIST report] over a Somali journalist’s death who was shot in Mogadishu, Somalia. Earlier in May Amnesty International [advocacy website] urged [JURIST report] the Sudanese government to cease its press censorship which significantly interfered with journalists’ right of expression. In early May UNESCO condemned the murder of a Mexican journalist who was found in Veracruz despite the legislative effort by the Mexican government to protect [JURIST reports] them. Syria was also criticized [JURIST report] for its continued practice of torturing and detaining journalists in an effort to undermine the freedom of expression.