BY Yasin Abu Taqiu
DOHA: A moment of silence was observed in Doha yesterday during a solidarity meeting, as a mark of respect for the journalists slain in the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The meeting was hosted by Doha Center for Media Freedom (DCMF) at Katara Cultural Centre.
Participants also signed a book of condolences in remembrance of the works the journalists carried out to provide information about what had been happening on the ground in Gaza. Seventeen journalists were killed, and homes of many were targeted, in addition to other violations against members of the media.
Among those killed was female journalist Najla Mahmoud Al Haj, whose home was bombed in Khan Yunis in the Strip.
Dr Abdeljalil Al Alami, Chairman, DCMF’s executive committee, said the bereaved families have given consent to the centre to pursue legal redressal.
He said DCMF will spare no efforts in bringing justice to the families. “We are against all forms of aggression against journalists – we have to be firm and defend the freedom of speech and opinion,” Al Alami said, adding this commitment is the objective and independence of all journalists’ race or religion.
“Our only commitment is to the truth,” he added.
According to Al Alami, the Israeli aggressions on journalists were the most ferocious in Gaza’s history.
He said 116 violations were recorded. Twenty-six journalist were wounded, 39 homes of scribes and media persons razed, 16 headquarters of media organisations and press offices targeted and destroyed, 10 TV channels and radio stations jammed and hacked, several Palestinian websites hacked and five vehicles owned by journalists targeted and damaged.
He said the killing of journalists is a violation of human rights — first, the denial of the basic human right to life and, second, the denial of citizens’ right to be informed. “Journalists need to be able to inform people, the Israelis are breaching people’s right to be informed,” said Mostefa Souag, Acting Director-General, Aljazeera Media Network.
“We must take this opportunity to stand with journalists, irrespective of their ethnicity, as we are here to support all journalists.”
A short film portraying the suffering of journalists while gathering news in Gaza was screened.
During a panel discussion on recommendations to how to defend journalists, introduce mechanisms to pursue justice for those imprisoned or killed, participants highlighted the importance of combating global spread of impunity and remembering fallen colleagues.
Jaber Al Harimi, Editor-in-Chief, Al Sharq, moderated the discussion after stressing the role the free and truthful media play in defending the needy.
Participants expressed concern that media companies were not doing enough to protect their employees working in war zones and were putting the blame on the governments.
They also highlighted the case of Aljazeera journalists serving seven and 10-year jail sentences in Egypt on charges of spreading false news and supporting a terrorist group.
Peter Greste, Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy have been behind bars for more than 250 days, and the speakers said they will continue to work towards securing their release as soon as possible. The Peninsula
