JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 23, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK - Syrian freelance journalist Majid Dirani was killed on February 19 by Syrian military tank shells while covering fighting in a suburb of Damascus, one of his employers, Anadolu Agency, and other news outlets reported.
Dirani, 21, was killed while trying to photograph the shelling and aerial bombardment of his neighborhood, Daraya, a suburb of Damascus that has been besieged by the Syrian army since 2012, according to his colleague at Anadolu, Mohammed Misto. "We used to call him our 'eyes in Daraya'" since he began working with Anadolu in December, Misto said. The district has seen increasing street battles and bombings since January, according to the Syrian Human Rights Observatory.
"We condemn the killing of Majid Dirani. Local journalists in Syria who are trying to convey to the world the horrible conditions inside their country continue to pay the ultimate price for their work," said Sherif Mansour, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa coordinator.
The Darayya Media Center, a local media group dedicated to reporting news from the district, on February 19 said Dirani had worked with them since the beginning of the Syrian uprising in 2011. The group published a video on their YouTube channel and a photo on their Facebook page claiming to show the moment Dirani was killed. The center also published a picture on social media purportedly showing Dirani's lifeless body with his camera.
Dirani, who was also known as Majid Abu Shafiq, had extensively documented the bombing of his district, according to his Facebook account, videos he recorded, the testimony of his colleague from the Darayya Media Center, and news reports.
Syria was the most dangerous country for the press in 2015, with at least 14 journalists killed. Since 2011, at least 93 journalists have been killed in Syria. - CPJ
Related posts from JournalismPakistan.com Archives:
Syrian journalist shot dead in Turkey
Al-Jazeera cameraman killed in Syria
IFJ condemns deaths of five Syrian journalists
Syrian journalist killed covering fighting
French journalist killed in Syria
Japanese reporter shot dead in Syria
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.