Since the toppling of former President Morsi, journalists have become the target of political violence taking place in the Egyptian streets.  When Egyptian army forces decided to break up the sit-ins of Ennahda and Adawiya by force, on August 14, claiming the lives of hundreds of protesters, journalists were among the deceased.

Since the toppling of former President Morsi, journalists have become the target of political violence taking place in the Egyptian streets.  When Egyptian army forces decided to break up the sit-ins of Ennahda and Adawiya by force, on August 14, claiming the lives of hundreds of protesters, journalists were among the deceased.

Three reporters and a television photographer were killed on that fateful Wednesday, according to the Journalists Syndicate, which monitors events and receives reports of wounded field journalists.  One television director died in Ramses Square two days later while twenty journalists were reported injured during the dispersals.

Five journalists killed in Cairo

Among the reporters killed was Habiba Abdul Aziz, a journalist at Gulf News and daughter of Ahmed Abdul Aziz, a media advisor of former President Morsi. Aziz died from a bullet to the head.

Ahmed Abdel Gawad, a journalist from the Al-Akhbar daily, was also killed by a bullet to the head while Musab Shami, a journalist at news network Rasd, died from a gunshot wound.

A Sky News cameraman, Michael Douglas, a 59-year-old British national, was killed during his coverage of the breaking up of the Rabia Al-Adawiya sit-in.

Mohamed Samir, director of Nile News Live, was allegedly shot by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood while covering the events in Ramses Square, near the main railway station, on Friday August 16, according to media statements.

“A disaster by all standards”

“It is a disaster by all standards,” says Abir Saadi, a spokeswoman for the Journalists Syndicate. “They claimed the lives of four journalists in one day,” she rages, stressing that Egyptian journalism has never witnessed such butchery before.

“Journalists have become targeted by all parties although they are only doing their job objectively. But their presence is rejected on the scene. I believe the photojournalist is exposed to a greater risk than the journalist, as any individual carrying a camera is targeted. They either kill him or confiscate his camera. The media suffers such vicious attacks in general,” Saadi told Correspondents.

Twenty journalists injured

A photo journalist from Al-Masry Al-Youm daily, Alaa Qahmawi, was shot in the leg while covering the events in Rabia al-Adawiya Square, where Muslim Brotherhood supporters had been staging a sit-in when army forces entered the square intent on clearing it.

“I was covering the sit-in at Rabia al-Adawiya Square a few hours before its break up and I took a few pictures after the arrival of the security forces, but no violent clashes had been incited yet. I left the square to deliver the pictures to my newspaper and then went back again. What I witnessed upon my return were surprisingly vicious confrontations between the two parties, where gunshots were randomly fired and the square was turned into a battlefield without any safe exits” recalls Qahmawi. “I was shot in the leg and my colleagues transferred me to hospital.”

Qahmawi has seen his country go through dark days recently, but none as bad as last Wednesday. “It was the worst and hardest day in the history of Egypt,” says the experienced reporter.  “I have reported all events since the outbreak of the 25 January Revolution and I can definitely say that Egypt has never witnessed such a day before.”

The Egyptian photographer asks why the police don’t protect information gatherers. “Despite the fact that Al-Masry Al-Youm is anti-Brotherhood, several colleagues were assaulted by police forces – they confiscated their cameras and tried to delete all their footage,” says Qahmawi. 

The injured reporter however praised the role of the Journalists Syndicate. “Although I am not a member of the Syndicate, its board members kept in contact with me and I received numerous telephone calls checking on my health. I believe they perform a great role,” he told Correspondents.

Journalists Syndicate calls for immediate investigation

The Syndicate stressed the need to preserve the lives of colleagues assigned to cover the events and enable them to perform their duties. It called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the death of Habiba Abdul Aziz and the other journalists killed during recent political events. It also asked journalists to exercise caution while covering events and report any harassment or assault directly to the Syndicate.

“The Syndicate monitors the condition of the wounded and I call for an urgent meeting in order to stop this disaster that threatens dozens of journalists and photographers. We will open an investigation and demand the safety of journalists,” says Abir Saadi.