4 journalists dead in Egypt as security forces target messengers
UK (AWMWC) condemned the armed attack on civilians in Egypt yesterday that lead
to killing four journalists, and injuring many others. It is very disturbing indeed to learn that the Egyptian military may be targeting journalists as they try to report on the violent disturbances in the country
{jcomments on}The journalists who were killed as
security forces moved in on a sit-in by Morsi supporters were: 26 years old
Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, an Egyptian journalist working for United Arab
Emirates state media, 61 years old cameraman, Mick Deane, working for British
broadcaster Sky News and Egyptian journalist Ahmed Abdel Jawwad, who reports
for the state-run newspaper Al Akhbar and Photographer Mosab El-Shami for Rassd news website (RNN). All four of them were killed during the
violent breakup of protest camps yesterday near Rabaah al-Adawiya Mosque in
Cairo.
The Gulf News, a state-backed
newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, reported on its website that journalist
Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz had been on annual leave and was not on assignment at
the protest for the XPRESS, a sister publication that she worked for. The
Egyptian Press Syndicate confirmed Jawwad’s death and Sky confirmed Deane’s
death.
There were journalists who were
injured too; Reuters news agency confirmed that photographer Asmaa Wajeeh had
been shot in the foot and is receiving treatment for her bullet wound.
An Associated Press photographer
working near the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque was hit in the back of the neck by
two birdshot pellets, said Manoocher Deghati, the AP’s Middle East photo
editor.
Qatar-based broadcaster Al
Jazeera said its cameraman Mohammed al-Zaki was shot in the arm and that two of
its correspondents were arrested during the day.
Paris-based Reporters Without
Borders said it had learned of several other injured Egyptian journalists,
including Tariq Abbas – a reporter for the Egyptian newspaper Al-Watan who
sustained gunshot wounds to his leg and eye – and photographer Ahmad Najjar who
was shot in the arm and had his camera seized.
List of journalists injured:
1. Asma Wajih, photographer for Reuters, shot in the leg
2. Tariq Abbas, reporter at Al Watan, shot in the face
3. Mohammed Kamal, journalist at Ad Doustour, suffered gunshot wounds
4. Alaa al-Kamhaoui, photographer at Al Misr Al Yom, shot in the leg
5. Mustapha Shimi, reporter at Veto newspaper, assaulted by protesters
6. Omar Saher working for Al Misr Al Yom and Iman Halal from Al Watan, assaulted, threatened with knives and had their cameras taken away
7. Mahmoud Kaleed, photographer at An Nahhar channel, assaulted and had camera destroyed while working near Al Mohandeseen
8. Ahmad Najjar, photographer at Al Misr Al Youm, gunshoot injury in the arm
9. Mohammed Shanah, journalist at Al Watan, assaulted
10. Abdellah Mashali, reporter at Al Watan, allegedly assaulted by pro- Morsi supporters
11. Mohamed Aud, bureau chief at MENA news agency, allegedly assaulted in Aswan by pro-Morsi supporters
12. Hamada Baazek, bureau chief at As Shourouk newspaper, also allegedly assaulted in Aswan by pro-Morsi supporters
13. Mahmoud Al Mala, editor at Misr Al Youm, assaulted in Aswan
14. Daa Ibrahim, bureau chief of Veto newspaper, assaulted in Aswan
15. Hamada Rassam, photographer at Misr Al Youm assaulted with colleague Ahmed Tarana
The latest statistics and figures
released this morning from the Egyptian Ministry of Health claims 464 were
killed yesterday (an update on 16 August 2013 Official death toll reaches 638), other sources, such as the Alliance
to Support Legitimacy and hospital figures claim the number exceeded 2600 and
thousands were wounded.
Director of Arab Women Media
Watch Centre in UK, Iqbal Tamimi, condemned the use of live ammunition against
civilians that lead to the loss of many lives including neutral people such as journalists
who were only doing their jobs.
‘Our deepest condolences and
sympathy goes to the families and friends of those who were killed. It is a
great shame that we have lost courageous and talented colleagues to violence.
Many sources claimed that journalists were targeted. We expected of Egyptian
authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists while covering events and to
hold whoever responsible for the journalists death accountable “she added.
Paul Breeden, chair of the Bristol branch of the National
Union of Journalists, said:
“It is very disturbing indeed to learn that the
Egyptian military may be targeting journalists as they try to report on the
violent disturbances in that country. “
“News of so many killings of
Egyptian civilians is terrible in itself. It is very worrying in addition that
the journalists who are trying to report this tragedy to the rest of the world
are themselves becoming targets.” He added.
Dr. Matt J. Duffy, an Arab media
scholar who teaches journalism at Kennesaw State University in the United
States told AWMWC:
“The Egyptian security
forces appear to be purposefully targeting journalists. The best way to control
the coverage of their crackdown is to discourage journalists from seeing what’s
happening. The death of journalists is the inevitable result of this authoritarian
approach. Their deaths should remind us of the bravery of journalists
everywhere who choose to risk their lives to shed light on injustices.”
Jordanian journalist, ex
Ambassador and Minister, Dr. Mohammad H. Dawodieh condemned the attack on the
journalists, he told AWMWC:
‘Under the pretext of removing the
barriers to facilitate traffic at Rabaah al-Adawiya and Alnahdah square, the security
forces and the Egyptian army proceeded, at the sight of the whole world in
breaking into both areas using live ammunition.
Its snipers and Shabeeha shot dead 525
people (according to official records!). Among those victims of this
military solution to the crisis, were a number of journalists who were killed
and injured after witnessing the attack. This aggression calls for condemnation
for killing civilians and journalists, and calls for restoring the
constitutional legitimacy in Egypt, and try those who were involved in the
massacres against the Egyptian civilians.
