Paris, 05 December—The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has urged India to investigate the killing of print journalist Rakesh Singh Nirbhik who was attacked in his house in a village in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 27 November.
“I condemn the murder of Rakesh Singh Nirbhik,” said the Director-General. “Rakesh Singh Nirbhik is one of all too many journalists killed for daring to publish information of public interest. I call on the Indian authorities to prosecute those responsible for this crime.”
Rakesh Singh Nirbhik, a reporter for daily newspaper Rashtriya Swaroop who published articles about corruption, died of fatal burn injuries in hospital. Three men reportedly entered his house in the village of Kalwari, doused him in inflammable liquid and set him on fire. Speaking in hospital, the journalist told police he believed the arson attack was connected to his reporting.
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