JournalismPakistan.com
October 30, 2017

BRUSSELS - A Syrian journalist was killed and a cameraman injured in a shelling by Syrian government forces on October 29 in Damascus province.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has mourned the death of the journalist and called on all sides to recognize the importance of safety for those covering conflicts.

Qays al-Qadi, who was in his 20s, worked for Al-Jisr, an Istanbul-based TV channel. His colleague, cameraman Omar Damashky, was injured and taken to hospital following the attack.

According to media reports, Qays al-Qadi had a press card around his neck when he was struck. The journalist was a bureau chief of Al-Jisr covering the situation in Eastern Ghouta, which is held by opposition forces. This area located in the east of Damascus had been heavily targeted by President Assad’s forces for a week. Ten other civilians were killed in the same attack.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger underlined the importance of protecting journalists in war zones. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Qays al-Qadi,” said Bellanger. “We urge all reporters covering war zones not to take unnecessary risks. Media must also invest in safety training for their staff on the ground. Journalists should not pay the ultimate price for doing their job and all warring parties must take necessary steps to protect journalists. Each death is a great loss for all of us.” – IFJ media release/Image courtesy: vocfm.co.za