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Journalists forced into exile rise sharply worldwide, Afghanistan accounts for almost half

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nearly 1,500 journalists from at least 65 countries have received emergency support from Reporters Without Borders since 2021 after fleeing threats or imprisonment.
  • Afghanistan accounts for nearly half of these cases, with 677 journalists supported by RSF since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.
  • The trend of journalists fleeing their countries is expanding across Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, driven by political violence and organized crime, which RSF warns weakens access to reliable information.

Since 2021, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has provided emergency assistance to nearly 1,500 journalists from over 60 countries who were forced into exile due to threats, imprisonment, or danger to their lives. The number of countries from which journalists fled has also risen significantly during this period.

The exile journeys of journalists supported by RSF paint a global picture of repression year after year.

— Vianney LoriquetVianney Loriquet, data journalist and head of the World Press Freedom Index at RSF, described the global trend of journalists being forced into exile.

Afghanistan represents the largest source of exiled journalists, with 677 individuals receiving support from RSF since the Taliban regained control in August 2021. Russia and Myanmar follow, with 160 and 101 journalists supported, respectively, after political upheavals in those nations.

RSF highlights a growing pattern of repression extending into Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Sahel and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as parts of Latin America. In these regions, independent reporting has become increasingly perilous due to political violence and organized crime. The organization warns that this forced exile of journalists undermines access to reliable information and creates opportunities for disinformation.

This is a staggering figure, yet it represents only a fraction of a much larger phenomenon.

— Vianney LoriquetVianney Loriquet commented on the significant number of reporters forced to flee their countries.

Vianney Loriquet, data journalist and head of the World Press Freedom Index at RSF, described the figures as a "staggering" representation of a larger global phenomenon. He noted that the dangers often persist for exiled journalists, who face risks such as extortion and deportation. RSF urges governments to enhance protections for these individuals through emergency visas, residence permits, and resettlement pathways, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding against refoulement.

When a journalist is forced to flee his or her country, exile does not put an end to the threats.

— Victoria LavenueVictoria Lavenue, head of RSF’s Assistance Office, warned about the ongoing dangers faced by exiled journalists.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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