The Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) strongly condemns the killing of French television reporter Gilles Jacquier in Syria and urges the Syrian government to reveal the circumstances of the incident.
Jacquier, who was working for France 2, was killed on Wednesday when rockets hit a group of journalists covering demonstrations in the city of Homs, one of the bastions of anti-government protest in Syria.
“We received with deep sorrow the news of Jacquier’s killing and we send our extreme regret and sincere condolences to the family and colleagues.” Jan Keulen, DCMF director general, said in a statement on Thursday.
“While the Doha Centre for Media Freedom urges Syria for an immediate release of information about the incident, we remind the Syrian authorities that they remain solely responsible for journalists’ safety in their country.” Keulen said.
“The government should protect the freedom of information and free and safe access for journalists to exercise their profession,
“DCMF is very alarmed about this tragic death and calls on Syrian authorities to refrain from repressive actions on local and foreign reporters who try to cover the current protests in the country.
Jacquier is the first foreign journalist to be killed in Syria since the beginning of anti-government protests on March 15, 2011. Two Syrian journalists were also killed during the current uprising.
