Around 211 Journalists Perished in Syria in Last Six Years - RWB

A war photographer takes pictures of an event with his camera on the battlefield.

Paris, 18 Jumadil Akhir 1438/17 March 2017 (MINA) – At least 211 journalists and “citizen journalists” or bloggers have been killed in Syria in the past six years since the conflict began in March 2011, KUNA reported, citing Reporters Without Borders (RWB) on Thursday.

A statement from the international press freedom NGO called on “all parties to protect journalists who cover (the conflict) on the ground.”

Moreover, RWB said that press professionals were caught between the regime and the various opposition and extremist groups involved in the fighting.

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“Acts of intimidation, arrests, kidnappings and murders are all frequent,” the statement said.

In addition to the 211 journalists and press workers killed, 26 others are missing and 21 are being held hostage, among them seven foreign reporters, the statement added.

Syria is the most dangerous country in the world for journalists and is ranked 177th out of 180 countries in RWB’s 2016 World Press Freedom Index. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)