News | 25 05 2020
A memorial to reporters fallen for the cause of freedom of expression around the world in 2014, was unveiled last Thursday in the town of Bayeux in France; in the presence of Cristophe Deloire, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders, in addition to relatives and acquaintances of those who were killed.
A brief speech was given by the director of [satirical French weekly] Charlie Hebdo, and the director of Syrian Radio Rozana Lina Shawwaf. Both speakers expressed sympathy with all those killed in the quest for freedom of expression in whatever form and wherever they have fallen.
The names of 91 various reporters from several countries, killed while performing their journalistic duties, were carved on the monument. These include the name of Mohammad al-Qasim, the citizen-journalist who worked for Radio Rozana, and who was killed on September 10, 2014.
With Mohammad's name on this monument, this may be viewed as a first step towards viewing Syrian journalists like any other around the world; thereby recognizing their rights and granting them equal treatment and protection.
Lina Shawwaf tanked France for this tribute. She added that there many names which she cannot mention, for security reasons. This particularly comprises the names of those killed under torture; those still disappeared, or; those languishing in the Syrian regime's prisons, or of other parties such as Daesh [ISIS].
This event was held was in the presence of a large number of French media.
