The family of journalist Mohammad Omar Khatib were informed of his death under torture ten days after the fact. Prior to his death, he was detained at Sednaya prison for two and a half years.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) reported and condemned, on 30 June 2014, the death of journalist Mohammad Omar Khatib in Sednaya military prison, where he was kept since his arrest on 8 January 2012.
Khatib died on 18 June 2014 as a result of the torture he endured during his detention, but Syrian authorities only informed his family of his death on 28 June. They handed over his identity card but not his body.
A few days after Khatib’s death, on 26 June, journalist and activist Hazem Abu Al-Nawras was killed while covering one of the battles at the Umm Charchooh front in Homs.
Violations against journalists and media professionals in Syria have been mounting. The murder of journalist Mo’ayyad Salloum, who was abducted by members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in early October 2013, was confirmed by his brother recently. His brother did not make any other statements regarding his death.
“Journalists and media personnel in Syria are being targeted by all parties in the conflict constituting a clear encroachment on freedom of expression and journalists’ right to safety while doing their work,” said ANHRI.
The network calls on international organisations concerned with human rights and freedoms to pressure their governments to put an end to the violations committed against journalists in Syria. ANHRI also implores them to try and find effective solutions for guaranteeing journalists’ safety on the job.
