Guwahati: The Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has joined in the chorus of condemnations against the abduction, murder and subsequent uploading of the visual of beheading a journalist by the militants in the conflict-ridden Syria. The scribes’ forum from eastern India expressed deepest shock at the incident and urged the media fraternity of the globe to come one and all condemning the brutal act.
By Nava J. Thakuria
International media outlets report that James W. Foley, an American photo-journalist was abducted in November 2012 from somewhere in Syria and later he was beheaded by an Al-Qaeda splinter group Islamic State.
The militants in an online video claim that the 40 years old scribe was slaughtered as an act of retribution against U.S. military intervention in Iraq.
In the video posted to YouTube, a masked executioner addressed to the US president personally and threatened more bloodshed against Americans, including another captured American journalist (Steven J. Sotloff), who was also depicted in the video. Barack Obama has already
condemning the ‘act of beheading that shocks the conscience of the entire world’ and pledged renewed determination to confront the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State.
Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the barbaric murder of James Foley, who was kidnapped and held almost two years in Syria before the act of beheading. “Foley went to Syria to show the plight of the Syrian people, to bear witness to their fight, and in so doing to fight for press freedom,” said CPJ chairman Sandra Mims Rowe. The New York based media rights body has claimed that the Islamic State Sunni extremist organisation operating in Syria and Iraq emerged as a biggest threat to the working journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Paris based media persons’ rights body has termed Syria as the most dangerous country for the journalists. The RSF revealed that 44 journalists have been killed in 2014 till today where the motives have been clear that the victims were targeted because of his/her activities as a journalist.
The deadliest countries include Syria (10), Palestine (7), Ukraine (4), Philippines (3), Central African Republic (2), Iraq (3), Libya (2), Brazil (2), Afghanistan (2), Egypt (1), Colombia (1), Mexico (1), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1), Somalia (1), Bangladesh (1) and India (Tarun Kumar Acharya), claimed RSF.
“Beheading of a journalist and uploading its video online is a matter of great concern for everyone in a civilized society and it must not be allowed to continue,” said a statement issued by JFA president Rupam Barua adding that the barbarism shown by the militants should be denounced by each and every human being who has bare minimum humanity and morals.
