Guwahati, Jan 05 (V7N) — As 2025 draws to a close, it has emerged as one of the deadliest years for journalists since the beginning of the century, second only to 2024, according to the Geneva-based global media safety and rights organisation Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).

At least 165 media professionals were killed across 31 countries in 2025, while 2024 recorded an even higher toll of 179 journalist deaths worldwide, PEC said. By region, the Middle East topped the list with 87 fatalities, followed by Latin America with 27, Asia with 23, Africa with 16, Europe with 10 and the United States with two.

The Gaza Strip accounted for the highest number of deaths in a single conflict zone, where at least 60 journalists were killed, almost all due to Israeli strikes. Since the outbreak of hostilities triggered by Hamas on 7 October 2023, at least 221 Palestinian media workers have been killed in Gaza, including 81 in 2023 and 80 in 2024.

The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia also continued to claim the lives of journalists. Nine journalists were killed in 2025 by either Ukrainian or Russian fire. Among them were three Ukrainian journalists and French journalist Antoni Lallican, who was killed in Ukraine. Five Russian journalists were killed by Ukrainian fire in border regions of Ukraine and Russia. In addition, several Ukrainian journalists died while serving in the armed forces. The Institute of Mass Information of Ukraine reported that since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, a total of 120 journalists have been killed in Ukraine, including those who died in combat. There are no available statistics on Russian journalists enlisted in the Russian armed forces who have been killed during the war.

PEC president Blaise Lempen warned that the increasing use of undetectable, ultra-fast drones poses a serious new threat to war correspondents on both sides of conflicts, while access to victims has become increasingly restricted.

Among the most affected countries, PEC expressed grave concern over Yemen, where 15 media workers were killed in 2025, including 13 who died in an Israeli attack on September 10. Mexico remained one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with nine murders linked largely to violence from drug trafficking groups. Sudan’s situation also deteriorated sharply due to ongoing fighting, resulting in at least eight deaths among media personnel.

According to PEC data, six journalists were killed in India, while Ecuador, Pakistan and Bangladesh each recorded five deaths. Iran and the Philippines reported four journalist killings each, with four media workers in Iran dying in an Israeli strike in Tehran. Peru also recorded four murders of journalists, while Syria saw three deaths. Afghanistan, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and the United States each lost two journalists. Single journalist deaths were reported in Brazil, Haiti, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

Impunity remains one of PEC’s primary concerns, as the absence of independent investigations and prosecutions continues to fuel violence against journalists. The organisation reiterated its support for recommendations adopted at the international conference on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts, held in Doha, Qatar, on 8 and 9 October. The conference called for the creation of an international commission of inquiry under United Nations auspices and urged the adoption of an international convention to protect journalists in conflict zones, including the establishment of a globally recognised press emblem.

PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, said India lost six media professionals to violent attacks in 2025, compared to four in 2024. The victims included Mukesh Chandrakar of NDTV in Bastar, Raghavendra Vajpayee of Dainik Jagaran in Uttar Pradesh, Sahadev Dey of Republic Andaman, Dharmendra Singh Chauhan of Fast News India in Haryana, Naresh Kumar of Times Odia in Odisha, and Rajeev Pratap Singh of Delhi Uttarakhand Live in Uttarakhand. The suspected murder of freelance journalist Pankaj Mishra in Dehradun was also noted.

Pakistan, which recorded the deaths of 12 journalists in 2024, reported five killings in 2025. The victims were AD Shar of Hum News, Abdul Latif of Daily Intekhab and Aaj News, Syed Mohammed Shah of Ab-Tak TV, Imtiaz Mir of Metro One News, and Tufail Rind of Royal News.

Bangladesh, which lost seven journalists in 2024, recorded five killings in 2025. The victims were Assaduzzaman Tuhin of Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj in Gazipur, Bibhuranjan Sarkar of Ajker Patrika in Munshiganj, Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu of Dainik Ajker Kagoj in Dhaka, Khandahar Shah Alam of Dainik Matrijagat in Dhaka, and Imdadul Haque Milon of Bartaman Somoy in Shalua.

The Philippines saw a sharp rise in fatalities, with four journalists killed in 2025 compared to one in 2024. The victims were Juan Johny Dayang of Philippine Graphic Magazine, Erwin Labitad Segovia of Radio WOW FM, Noel Bellen Samar of DWTZ, and Gerry Campos of Barangay Sta. Cruz.

Afghanistan, which reported no journalist deaths in 2024, lost two media workers in 2025: Abdul Ghafoor Abid of Paktia National Radio Television and Abdul Zahir Safi of a state-run media outlet in Kabul. Nepal repeated its grim record from 2024 with the killing of Avenues TV journalist Suresh Rajak in Kathmandu.

Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives reported no journalist casualties in 2025, offering rare examples of respite amid a globally worsening climate for press freedom and journalist safety.

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