CPJ Iraq screenshot

CPJ: 'Most of the murders occurred as Iraq was immersed in war, but even now, as authorities claim stability, they have failed to bring justice in a single case'


Iraq remains at the top of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Impunity Index for the fifth year in a row, with the press freedom group reporting that the cases of 93 journalists killed in the past 10 years remain unsolved.

The latest index, published annually by the group, lists the 12 countries that have seen at least five reporters killed with no resulting convictions from 2002 to 2011.

The CPJ reports that Iraq's rating for impunity "dwarfs that of every other nation" with a rating of 2.906 unsolved cases per million inhabitants.

"Most of the murders occurred as Iraq was immersed in war, but even now, as authorities claim stability, they have failed to bring justice in a single case."

Somalia remained the second worst for the third year running, with 11 killings unsolved, giving the country a ranking of 1.183 unsolved cases per million inhabitants.

Meanwhile Pakistan, which at the end of 2011 was named as "the deadliest country for journalists" by the CPJ having recorded seven deaths in 2011 where the motive is known, saw its impunity ranking worsen "for the fourth straight year".

The country was ranked tenth with 19 unsolved killings, which gives a rating of 0.109 unsolved cases per million inhabitants.

CPJ added that it discovered "improving conditions in Colombia and Nepal, along with a long-term decline in deadly, anti-press violence in Bangladesh that caused that country to drop off the list entirely".

"But the four worst nations in combating journalist murders - Iraq, Somalia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka – showed virtually no sign of progress".

The full index is shown below in order of rank and displaying the number of unsolved cases. The number in brackets is the rating of unsolved cases per million inhabitants:
  1. Iraq: 93 (2.906)
  2. Somalia: 11 (1.183)
  3. Philippines: 55 (0.589)
  4. Sri Lanka: 9 (0.431)
  5. Colombia: 8 (0.173)
  6. Nepal: 5 (0.167)
  7. Afghanistan: 5 (0.145)
  8. Mexico: 15 (0.132)
  9. Russia: 16 (0.113)
  10. Pakistan: 19 (0.109)
  11. Brazil: 5 (0.026)
  12. India: 6 (0.005)
Tags: Click tag to find related articles; click icon for feed

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).

Related articles