First: The Islamic Radio and Television Union strongly condemns the crimes committed by the ‘Israeli’ army in targeting journalists, which led to the martyrdom of brave colleague Hajj Ali Shoaib from Al-Manar TV, and the prominent journalist Fatima Ftouni from Al-Mayadeen TV, and her brother, photojournalist Mohammad Ftouni, as they were performing their professional duty in conveying the truth in voice and image of the ongoing confrontation in South Lebanon.
Second: The IRTVU considers this targeting a heinous crime whose goal is to blind the facts in the battlefields and the crimes committed by the ‘Israeli’ occupation forces and aggressions against the Lebanese civilians, in an attempt to silence the voice of truth and hide the image of truth.
Third: The targeting of journalists in the field is a blatant violation of the freedom of press, and a clear violation of the international humanitarian law, especially the principles that guarantee the protection of worked in the media domain in times of conflicts and wars, as it is provided in the Geneva Agreement, as well as the international resolutions that are related to protecting the civilians.
Fourth: The IRTVU underlines that this targeting is an exposed attempt to attack the freedom of press and the right of journalists to protection, forms a continuous track of grave violations against humanity, and raises questions about the misfunctioning of mechanisms of international accountability, and the retreat of efficiency of the rights groups when the perpetrator is the ‘Israeli’ war machine, to keep it away from actual accountability and escape punishment.
Fifth: The IRTVU calls on the international community, atop of which is the United Nations and other rights organizations and bodies dealing with the freedom of media, to shoulder their legal and ethical responsibilities, and take practical and immediate measure to guarantee the protection of journalists. It also calls on friendly media outlets to the widest campaign of solidarity with the families of the martyred journalists and their media institutions, and to appreciate their endless giving for the sake of the right of the media performance.
Sixth: The IRTVU extends the warmest condolences to the national media family, and to the Al-Manar and Al-Mayadeen Channels, as well as the families of the martyrs, and underlines that this crime won’t hinder the journalists from performing their mission, but will rather increase their insistence on conveying the truth to the world, as part of loyalty to their colleagues who were martyred while their carries the responsibility of the word and the image. It also considers martyrs Shoaib and Ftouni icons of the free, honest, and resisting media, and that their martyrdom in the battlefield is a medal of pride and honor for them and the media milieu alike.
Seventh: The attempt to hide the truth won’t succeed, and free media will remain bearing witness on the ‘Israeli’ crimes, an unbeatable voice against the aggression, and a light for every brave and free resistance fighter.
Kindly do accept the utmost respect and appreciation
The Islamic Radio and Television Union
Secretary General
Ali Karimian
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