Bouzid, editor of the weekly newspaper Burniq, was an outspoken critic of Islamic extremists and is reported to have received threats to his life because of the opinions he expressed, according to a news release issued by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He was shot dead in the centre of Benghazi on Monday.

 

“Guns must not be allowed to silence diversity of opinion, nor will they ever replace words in securing the support of civil society,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

 

“UNESCO is particularly affected by this loss as colleagues remember Meftah Bouzid’s enthusiastic participation last year in professional journalism workshops we organized along with the United Nations Election Support Team in Libya,” she added.

 

Bouzid’s killing brings to four the number of cases in Libya condemned by the Director-General since January 2013.

 

Stop killing journalists. Photo: UNESCO