Several Syrian journalists targeted and one killed, RSF says
July 23, 2021, 4:33 am

Several Syrian journalists targeted and one killed, RSF says

Several Syrian journalists targeted, one killed

Reporters without borders reported that after a weekend marked by serious press freedom violations in different parts of Syria, including a photographer’s death in a bombardment in Idlib province, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for every effort to be made to allow journalists to do their work, regardless of who controls the area where they are operating.

The RSF said freelance photographer Homam Al-Asi was killed during an artillery bombardment on 17 July in Sarjah, in the south of Idlib province, while covering rescue operations by members of the White Helmets volunteer organisation in an area hit by an earlier bombardment.

A White Helmets photo showed Al-Asi’s body, with blood on his volunteer vest, helmet and camera.

It added, three journalists – Izzeddin Al-Mala (the editor of the newspaper Kurdistan), Barzan Layani (a reporter for ARK TV, a local station) and Mohamed Saleh (a former Kurdistan TV reporter) –were arrested the same day by security services in Qamishli, a city in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria .

The previous day, 16 July, masked men stabbed and robbed the cartoonist Hadeel Ismail near her workplace in Azaz, a town controlled by Turkish forces and located in Aleppo province.

According to the Syrian Press Centre, for which she works, she was threatened a few weeks ago over her cartoons of Nasr Hariri, the former head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and the High Negotiations Committee.

“A death, an attack and three arrests – these serious press freedom violations show that Syria continues to be a dangerous country for journalists wherever they are and whatever the forces present there,” said Sabrina Bennoui, the head of RSF’s Middle East desk.

“The Syrian tragedy has gone on for too long for journalists, who must be able to do their job without being threatened at all times.”

Syria is ranked 173rd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2021 World Press Freedom Index.

Source: RSF
Image source: RSF

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”