Association of Syrian Journalists Documents 244 Journalists Killed Since March 2011

The Association of Syrian Journalists released a report which documents violations against journalists and media activists in Syria. The report states that four media activists’ journalists were killed during June 2014, bringing the total number to 244 since March 2011. June has witnessed violations against journalists in areas beyond the control of the Assad regime or in the contested areas. Jordanian authorities have been detaining four Syrians who work in Al Abbassiya, an Iraqi TV channel since June 4th. Hussein Al Chalabi, head of the Freedoms Committee in the Association of Syrian Journalists, said that “the monthly reports issued by the the Association of are credible source for many rights organizations, including Reporters without Borders. Our reports are important as they document the violations against journalists regardless of who was behind them. We also follow strict rules in the preparation of our reports.” Al Chalabi said that a journalist died under torture in Assad’s security branches, while another one died in aerial shelling in Dara’a. ISIS executed a journalist in East Ghouta, while the fourth one is an Egyptian photographer who was working for the Chinese news agency Xinhua, who was killed by a random gunfire during Assad loyalist’s celebration of the results of the so-called presidential elections. What’s interesting in this month’s report is the increasing violations against journalists even outside Syria. Four Syrian media activists working in an Iraqi TV channel have been arrested in Jordan, while a member of the Association was assaulted in Tunisia when he was covering a peaceful protest.” The report also documented violations that were committed in areas controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party. A radio broadcasting was closed down in Afrin north of Aleppo even though it obtained a license from the media institutions run by the party. The party’s militiamen also assaulted a reporter who was covering an explosion in Al Qamishli. (Source: Association of Syrian Journalists + Syrian Coalition)