JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 22, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
BRUSSELS - Dr. Orouba Barakat and daughter Hala Barakat were murdered in their Istanbul apartment Thursday. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemned the brutal murder and called on the Turkish authorities to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice
The pair was found stabbed to death in their apartment in the suburb of Uskudar late on Thursday night. However, Turkish police have not issued any information regarding the murders, according to reports.
Orouba Barakat (60) was a writer, filmmaker, journalist, and activist who had fled her native Syria in the 1980s. Her daughter Hala (22) was a journalist for Orient TV.
Orouba Barakat was well known for her regular appearances on TV. A member of the Syrian opposition national council and critic of the Syrian government, she campaigned for the rights of Syrians living under the Assad regime, particularly after the civil unrest and civil war after 2011 which has seen the destruction of the Syrian cities and hundreds of thousands of civilians killed.
Orouba produced a series of commentaries revealing the torture and killing of detainees in Syrian government prisons based on interviews with survivors.
Her daughter Hala reported for Orient Net and various other media outlets. She was also active in campaigning for human rights to be upheld in Syria.
“As we mourn the tragic loss of Hala and Orouba Barakat today, we also call on the Turkish authorities to make sure that their killers are brought to justice as swiftly as possible”, said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.
Orouba and Hala’s deaths mark three Syrian journalists killed this year and three journalists killed in Turkey, respectively. – IFJ media release
March 26, 2025: Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick has been remanded to FIA custody for five days in a new fraud case. The FIA alleges his involvement in a call center scam defrauding foreign nationals.
March 26, 2025: A district court in Islamabad granted the FIA a two-day physical remand of journalist Waheed Murad. He was arrested under the PECA Act for sharing a report by exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani on social media. His arrest involved armed men in black uniforms, according to his family.
March 25, 2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has promised to name a journalism department in an educational institution after slain journalist Arshad Sharif. This follows a suggestion by analyst Ather Kazmi during an interview.
March 25, 2025: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the arrest of Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick, founder of Raftar, demanding his immediate release. The PFUJ has also denounced the case, calling it an attack on press freedom in Pakistan.
March 24, 2025: Who will be responsible if my sons are harmed?" cries a mother in Islamabad High Court, pleading for justice after her sons' alleged abduction. The court summons the IG police over the alleged kidnapping. The family claims intelligence agencies are involved.
March 24, 2025: Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.
March 22, 2025: The arrest of journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick under PECA violations has sparked concerns over press freedom in Pakistan. Digital rights activists warn of increasing state suppression.
March 21, 2025: Geo Group’s security guards allegedly led an assault on protesting journalists in Islamabad, dismantling their camp and threatening them. The hypocrisy of a media giant advocating press freedom while suppressing its workers is exposed.
March 25, 2025 Turkish authorities must release detained journalists covering protests and end press crackdowns. CPJ condemns police violence and home raids targeting media workers.
March 23, 2025 The severed pig’s head sent to Indonesia’s leading news outlet, Tempo, signals escalating media intimidation amid President Prabowo Subianto’s attacks on foreign-funded media.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.