UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned veteran Palestinian reporter Sherin Abu AKleh’s assassination, calling for the relevant authorities to conduct an independent and transparent investigation.
According to a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mr. Guterres also condemned all attacks and killings of journalists, stressing that they must never be the target of violence.
The UN Chief called for the freedom of journalism, saying,” Media workers should be able to carry out their work freely and without harassment, intimidation or the fear of being targeted.”
In the same connection, he UN chief reiterated his firm conviction that a free press is essential for peace, justice, sustainable development and human rights.
Journalists and media workers are facing “increasing politicization” of their work and threats to their freedom to simply do their jobs, that are “growing by the day,” Guterres said earlier.
“The maven Palestinian reporter Abu Akleh was killed “in cold blood,” the Arab media said on May 11, describing her assassination as a “horrifying crime that breaches international norms and ethics”.
The late journalist was allegedly shot by Israeli soldiers while covering an Israeli operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. However, the Israeli military denied that its forces targeted the journalists.
