The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova today condemned the killing of web editor Faisal Qureshi in Lahore (Pakistan) on 7 October. She also called for an investigation into the case.
“I condemn the killing of Faisal Qureshi,” the Director-General said. “It is essential for democracy and rule of law that journalists be able to exercise their basic human right of freedom of expression. Reporters and editors cannot be expected to do their job of informing public debate when facing mortal danger. I call on the authorities to investigate this latest killing and to take all the steps towards improving the safety of journalists in the country.”
Faisal Qureshi, 28, was a Lahore-based editor for the London Post. He was found dead at home with his throat slit, according to press reports. Qureshi is the fourth journalist suspected by the Committee to Protect Journalists to have been killed because of his professional activities.
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UNESCO is the 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