The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
has called for all factions involved in the Egyptian crisis to take immediate
steps to ensure the safety and protection of journalists.
The call follows media reports that Egyptian
photographer Ahmed Assem el-Senousy was killed in Cairo yesterday morning,
Monday 8 July. According to reports, el-Senousy, 26, was shot by a sniper while
covering clashes between security forces and pro-Morsi protestors at the
Republican Guards' headquarters.
The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate (EJS)
has expressed its sadness at the loss of a colleague and condemned those people
who "disregard the safety of journalists who are doing their job."
"We all mourn the tragic loss of journalist Ahmed
Assem el-Senousy," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. "His senseless murder
demonstrates the risks our colleagues covering the political and social unrest
in Egypt are facing every day. "We call on the authorities in Egypt to
investigate this case immediately to ensure the perpetrators of this horrific
murder answer for their crimes and face the full weight of justice."
The IFJ conducted a Solidarity Mission to Cairo
over the weekend, arranged in cooperation with the Federation of Arab
Journalists (FAJ). Led by IFJ
General Secretary, Beth Costa, along with Mounia
Belafia, Joint Chair of IFJ Gender Council and Younis Mjahed, Senior
Vice-President of IFJ, the mission was organised to support journalists covering
the current crisis and gather first-hand information about the problems they
are facing.
The mission heard accounts of journalists who have
been forced into hiding, fearing for their lives after their names and
addresses had been published in some media, exposing them to mob violence.
"Our Solidarity Mission to Egypt has helped us learn
more about the dangerous situation facing journalists in the country," said
Costa. "We are deeply concerned at the treatment of journalists during this
period of political and social unrest and we urge supporters of each camp to
respect the safety and independence of journalists.
"We also ask that media
owners in the country uphold their duty of care for their staff and protect the
safety of their journalists covering potentially dangerous situations.
Journalists should stay united and stand together to avoid divisions and
overcome these difficult times."
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134
countries