Article 19 along with 33 other international human rights organizations have called for an immediate investigation to the Israeli government into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
The veteran journalist died in an attack in the West Bank on May 11 that also left another journalist wounded, said a press release on Sunday.
The rights organizations demanded that the government of Israel and all other states fulfil their responsibility to ensure that crimes against journalists are fully investigated and prosecuted.
Faruq Faisel, regional director for Article 19 South Asia, said: “Killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is the continuation of the high rate of attack against Palestinian journalists. Her killing apparently constitutes a war crime.
“Evidence suggests Shireen Abu Akleh was killed in a targeted attack by Israeli forces. The Israeli government should investigate the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in full compliance with the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death and bring the perpetrator(s) into justice.”
Faruq further said that the Israeli government’s recent announcement that it will not investigate this killing only adds to the concerns that journalists' lives are not valued enough.
The rights organizations demanded concrete action by states and other duty bearers, including international governmental organisations (IGOs) with a specific mandate in this area, to fulfil their duty to protect the safety of journalists and to ensure that attacks against the press are not carried out with impunity.
