UNESCO boss condemns murder of journalist Urooj Iqbal

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 December 2019

UNESCO condemns the murder of Urooj Iqbal, a journalist killed in Lahore. Audrey Azoulay calls for an investigation and highlights threats against women journalists.

Summary

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has called on Pakistani authorities to investigate the murder of journalist Urooj Iqbal, who was killed in Lahore on November 25. “I condemn the murder of journalist Urooj Iqbal," the Director-General said. “Women journalists around the world face significant threats, both to their physical safety and to their right to freedom of expression. It is important to state clearly that femicide cannot be tolerated.” According to media reports, Urooj was found dead, shot in the head, in the building where she lived. She had recently told the police that she had received threats from her husband, who was also urging her to give up her profession as a journalist.

The crime, which coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, is a reminder of the importance of taking action against threats against women journalists. UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity-building and the implementation of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.— A UNESCO media release