ARTICLE 19, an international human rights organization based in the UK, strongly condemns the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist who was killed by the Israeli forces on 11 May while reporting on raids in Palestine’s occupied West Bank.
The rights body promoting freedom of expression and the protection of journalists around the world demands that those responsible for the killing of the woman journalist be held accountable. ARTICLE 19 also calls for an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the journalist’s death.
In a statement on Thursday, Faruq Faisel, Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said, “This is a shocking murder of a journalist who vividly displayed her professional identity on duty. Authorities tasked with protecting journalists were allegedly involved in this killing which indicates what governments and authorities around the world are doing is not enough to ensure the safety and security of journalists.”
“The states those have military power, such as Russia and Israel, are showing an alarming tendency of attacking the journalist community, which is a threat to the stable ecosystem of the world. We call on the authorities concerned and the international community to conduct an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into Shirin's death. We also demand that those responsible for this incident be held accountable,” he added.
Shirin, who had been reporting on Israel and Palestine for more than 15 years, was shot in the head while she was reporting on raids in the city of Jenin. She was wearing a flak jacket displaying the word ‘press’ on it. This was confirmed by eyewitnesses, including fellow reporters, who say she was also wearing a helmet and that she was directly targeted.
The eyewitness reports indicate that Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) carried out the attack, though this has not been officially confirmed. Al-Jazeera also blamed Israeli forces for Abu Akleh’s death.Just a week after the World Press Freedom Day, which highlighted the need for greater protection for journalists, the killing of Shirin is a shocking reminder of how much more is needed from governments around the world to ensure the safety, security and freedom of media workers.
Unfortunately, journalists often face danger from the very authorities tasked with protecting them. Governments must also hold their military forces to account when they are responsible for deaths, as appears to be the case in the murder in the West Bank.
