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Press release

Director-General urges investigation into murder of journalist Buddhinath Jha in India

22/11/2021

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has urged an investigation into the killing of online journalist Buddhinath Jha, also known as Avinash Jha, whose dead body was found on the roadside in the east Indian state of Bihar on 12 November, 3 days after he had gone missing.

I condemn the murder of Buddhinath Jha, aka Avinash Jha. The courage of journalists like Avinash Jha deserves praise and their safety should be protected. I call on the authorities to shed light on the motives of this killing and bring its perpetrators to trial in order to defend freedom of expression, press freedom and the public right to information.

Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

In his reporting, Buddhinath Jha exposed illegal medical clinics and nursing homes. The journalist, who went missing on 9 November, is reported to have received threats to his life in connection with his investigations. Jha was also an activist for the right to information.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

 

See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists

Media contact: Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, g.godoi@unesco.org