Director-General condemns murder of Pakistani journalist Zubair Ahmed Mujahid
30-11-2007 (Paris)
Stop killing journalists
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The Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura today condemned the murder of Pakistani journalist Zubair Ahmed Mujahid voicing grave concern about growing pressures on freedom of expression in the country.
“I condemn the murder of Zubair Ahmed Mujahid,” the Director-General declared. “Mr Mujahid was a committed journalist who gave a voice to the poor showing how important the media can be in promoting transparency and rule of law. “I am particularly concerned,” Mr Matsuura continued, “about the working condition of journalists in Pakistan in view of the double pressure posed by growing number of heinous crimes such as the killing of Mr Mujahid, and the proclamation of a state of emergency. Once again, I call on the authorities to do all they can to restore democracy and freedom of expression, its natural corollary.”
Mr Mujahid was shot dead on 23 November in the southern province of Sindh. He was the author of a weekly column for Jang. He is the sixth Pakistani journalist to be killed since the start of this year.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
Mr Mujahid was shot dead on 23 November in the southern province of Sindh. He was the author of a weekly column for Jang. He is the sixth Pakistani journalist to be killed since the start of this year.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
Related themes/countries
· Pakistan
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2007
· Press Freedom: News Archives 2007
· UNESCO Remembers Assassinated Journalists: News Archives 2007
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Contact information
- UNESCO Press Release No.2007-152
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