The International Federation of Journalists has
condemned the killing on Monday night, 19 August, of Egyptian daily AlAhram''s bureau regional chief, Tamer Abdel Raouf, shot by soldiers
shortly after the beginning of the curfew at an army check point in Damanhur in
the Nile delta province of Buheira.
Another journalist, Hamed Al Barbari, a
reporter for the daily Al Gumhuria, who was travelling
with him in the car, was also shot in the hand and leg and has beeen hospitalised.
"It is shocking that trigger-happy security
forces shoot to kill without any attempt to establish the identity of the
journalists. This seems to be a case of shoot first and ask questions later
which is unacceptable," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. "If journalists and media personnel, who are officially
exempt form curfew, are to be allowed to move freely and safely at night, the
security forces must establish clear rules to enforce the curfew."
According to the Egyptian Journalists'
Syndicate, the two journalists were travelling back home in Kafr Al Dawwar,
after an assignment at the Beheira governate and decided to take a turn as they
approached a military checkpoint. Soldiers fired at the car.
The International Federation of Journalists has
joined the Syndicate in urging Egyptian authorities to carry out an independent
investigation on what had happened.
"We have reiterated our advice to
journalists in Egypt to exercise extreme caution and our call for media
organisations to ensure the safety of their journalists during this extremely
dangerous period," said IFJ General Secretary Beth Costa.
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries
