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November bloodiest month for journalists in Syria: activists

Thirteen reporters and citizen journalists were killed, according to one activist group.

Syrian children look through their car window as they cross into Lebanon with their families at the border crossing, in Masnaa, eastern Lebanon
Syrian children look through their car window as they cross into Lebanon with their families at the border crossing, in Masnaa, eastern Lebanon
Image: Hassan Ammar/AP/Press Association Images

NOVEMBER WAS THE bloodiest month for journalists in Syria in the 20-month uprising, with 13 reporters and citizen journalists killed, the pro-revolution Syrian Journalists Association announced today.

“This is a clear and serious indication that journalists and media workers are being targeted, by Syrian regime forces as well as three killed at the hands of the armed opposition,” the SJA alleged.

Among those killed were Mustafa Kerman, who was fatally wounded in shelling in second city Aleppo on November 16. “Mustafa was killed by a shell while filming a (Friday) protest in Bustan al-Qasr” neighbourhood, a Facebook page dedicated to the young man said.

The following day, media activist Hassan Kaaka, was tortured to death in the Aleppo military intelligence branch, the SJA said, noting that two of his brothers had also been killed during the uprising.

On November 18, citizen journalist Mohammed al-Khaled was killed by the Namr battalion of the Diraa al-Shahbaa rebel brigade in Aleppo city.

Journalist Mohammed Quraytam, a peace activist, was killed in shelling on the town of Daraya outside Damascus on Thursday, according to the SJA.

“Quraytam was working with Aynab Baladi newspaper and was an important activist in the peaceful movement. He had been imprisoned in 2003 for his civil society activities in Daraya,” it said.

The association said 100 journalists and media activists have killed in Syria since the outbreak of the revolution.

Reporters Without Borders, said at least 15 journalists and 41 citizen journalists have been killed in connection with their work since the start of the conflict.

- © AFP, 2012

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Comments (2 Comments)

  • @B Lowe The situation in Syria has developed into a vicious internecine civil war. Yes, there are foreign fighters there, however, I do not understand why you try to make out that the fighters are mostly foreign when that is just not true. The sad truth is a monstrous regime tried to quell peaceful protests by brute force and failed. Whatever foreign agencies are involved now, are there because of the Syrian regimes corrupt and vicious reaction to a mass cry from the Syria people for reform. The FSA are no saints either, I will agree, but thousands of real people are suffering and the vast majority have suffered at the hands of a corrupt evil regime led by the dictator Assad. Be a bit more honest in your posts the Syrian government is fighting its own people, the foreigners are in the minority.

    Reply
  • B Lowe 30/11/12 #

    What a load of codswallop. The amount of journalists that the so called ‘rebels’ have killed is shocking and it is not get covered at all by AFP or Reuters or any of the other Western propaganda media outlets.
    Only yesterday, the thugs made up of foreigners nationals aka the so called ‘rebels’ blew up cars belonging to Press TV in Damascus not killing the intended journalists but lots of innocent people. Nothing said about it and notify coverage.
    Hopefully the Syrian government can defeat these terrorists.

    Reply

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