Amnesty International has today condemned the killing of Al Jazeera cameraman Ali Hassan Al Jaber in Libya and warned of a campaign of attacks and harassment on journalists.
“It appears that the Al Jazeera team was brutally and deliberately targeted,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director.
“Coming so soon after the detention and torture by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces of three BBC staff — who were subjected to beatings and mock executions — and the detention of other journalists, this killing is most disturbing.”
“It is essential that this killing and the other abuses against journalists are investigated as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s investigation into the situation in Libya. Those responsible for the killing of Ali Hassan Al Jaber must be held accountable for their actions.”
Ali Hassan Al Jaber, a Qatari national born in 1955, was killed after being ambushed near Benghazi. A colleague travelling with him was also injured. An Al Jazeera reporter Benghazi said Ali Hassan Al Jaber was hit by three shots and was wounded through the heart.
Ghaith Abdul Ahad, a journalist working with the British newspaper The Guardian, has not been heard from since 6 March. A Brazilian journalist travelling with him was released from detention in Tripoli on 10 March. It is believed Ghaith Abdul Ahad is in detention.
“Ghaith Abdul Ahad and all those detained like him simply for reporting the facts must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Malcolm Smart.