JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 18, 2014
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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has declared December a deadly month for Syrian journalists as five more colleagues died in the first half of the month, says a Press Release.
“The safety of Syrian journalists is critical. The deaths of foreign correspondents in recent months has had a profound impact on the world’s journalists community, but the sacrifices of Syrian journalists are just as great and their deaths just as shocking.” Said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. “The IFJ will continue to do all it can to improve the safety of our colleagues in Syria.”
Monday 8th December two journalists and their cameraman working for the Syrian opposition TV station Orient News were killed while heading to cover the aftermath of clashes in Dara province. The station said it believed the journalists were directly targeted by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.
According to media reports, correspondents Rami Asmi and Yousef El-Dous and cameraman Salem Khalil were driving to cover recent opposition advances in the village of Sheikh Miskeen when their car was hit by a guided missile fired by government forces. The car was not marked as a press vehicle, but Orient News said it was identifiable by the satellite dish it was carrying.
The fourth one died in the same area. Mahran al Deiry, reporter of al Jazeera.Net, was killed last Wednesday evening while traveling with the lights of his car off to avoid being targeted. As a result, his car was hit by a military vehicle belonging to the Syrian rebel forces. Before working for Aljazeera, al Deiry worked for the official Syrian news agency.
Lastly, Abdul Rahman Abu Batra was killed last 5 December by ISIS at the city of Lattakia, North-West Syria. He worked as a speaker and journalist at Syrian Al Shaab TV.
The IFJ will be participating this weekend in the congress of the Syrian Journalists Association in Turkey where the subject of safety will be top of the agenda.
According to the IFJ’s Safety website’s figures, Syria remains as one of the most dangerous countries for media workers.
December 05, 2024: UNESCO and IRADA hosted a national consultation in Islamabad, calling for inclusive Internet governance reforms in Pakistan to protect digital rights, freedom of expression, and access to information through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
December 04, 2024: A viral video claiming journalist Matiullah Jan was expelled from PMA has been debunked by iVerify Pakistan. The video, edited with AI, originates from the drama serial Ehd-e-Wafa.
November 30, 2024: Journalist Matiullah Jan has been released from Adiala Jail after securing bail, ending fears of a potential transfer to Attock Jail. He expressed gratitude to supporters and shared light-hearted moments about his custody.
November 30, 2024: Daily Dawn condemns the arrest of journalist Matiullah Jan as a misuse of the law. The editorial highlights concerns over the state's weaponization of legal provisions against journalists, activists, and dissenters.
November 30, 2024: The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to journalist Matiullah Jan in a case involving drugs and terrorism charges. He was released on a surety bond of PKR 10,000 following the suspension of his physical remand by the Islamabad High Court.
November 29, 2024: The Lahore High Court has ordered the production of journalist Shakir Mahmood Awan’s alleged kidnapper by Monday while summoning IG Punjab and demanding CCTV footage from Safe City.
November 29, 2024: Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.
November 29, 2024: WISPAP has requested the Ministry of Interior to extend the deadline for VPN registration in Pakistan, citing the need to ensure compliance amid increasing VPN usage after platform bans.
December 05, 2024 Over 50 journalists protested in Kuala Lumpur against proposed amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which threaten press freedom. IFJ and NUJM urge the government to withdraw the bill and engage in stakeholder consultation.
December 04, 2024 The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 faces uncertainty as Pakistan's hosting rights clash with India's refusal to participate. A political and financial standoff unfolds.
December 03, 2024 Submit your work for the Global Shining Light Award by February 28, 2025. Celebrate investigative journalism from the Global South at the Kuala Lumpur conference.
November 21, 2024 Investigative journalist Rana Ayyub received over 200 threats after her phone number was leaked on social media by a right-wing content creator. IFJ and IJU demand Maharashtra authorities take immediate action against those responsible for this targeted online harassment.
November 20, 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany is accepting applications for its 2025 Berlin Fellowship Program, offering journalists from crisis areas six months of digital security training, networking opportunities, and more.