The human rights organization ARTICLE 19 has condemned the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist who was shot and killed by Israeli forces while reporting on raids in Palestine’s occupied West Bank.
The UK-based rights body in a statement issued on Thursday demanded those responsible for the killing of the journalist be held accountable.
ARTICLE 19 also called for an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into her death.
Mr 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 that 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.’’
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 on Wednesday.
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 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 World Press Freedom Day, which highlighted the need for greater protection for journalists, the killing of Shireen 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, said ARTICLE 19.
But journalists often face danger from the very authorities tasked with protecting them, it said, adding that governments must 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.
