Seven Southeast Asian Organizations Urge Transparent Investigation for the Murder of Al Jazeera Journalist

We urge the Israeli authorities to allow the United Nations to conduct an independent
investigation into the murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and engage the
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories. An
investigation should also be carried out into the violence committed by Israeli security
officers during Shireen’s funeral.

Abu Akleh, 51, was shot in the head while on an assignment to cover Israeli operation in
the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on May 11. This incident worsened security
conditions for journalists in Palestine and set a global precedent. The independent
investigation by the UN is expected to ensure the killer is revealed and imposed with
the maximum punishment.

The killing of Shireen in the midst of a military operation is a violation of human rights
and international law. This has an impact on the public’s right to obtain credible
information, especially regarding the Israeli attacks in the West Bank which resulted in
the killing of dozens of Palestinians.

More than 40 Palestinian journalists have reportedly been killed since 2000, with
hundreds injured or being the targets of violence.

The investigation into the murder of Shireen is an attempt to stop impunity for the
perpetrators of crimes against journalists. So far, impunity has led to violence targeting
journalists in various countries, placing press workers in dangerous situations.

UNESCO noted that 55 journalists and media professionals were killed during 2021, with
87 percent of the murder cases of journalists remaining unsolved since 2006. Every
country must ensure the protection of journalists who work to fulfill the public’s right to
information, promote peace, and promote human rights.

Signed by:
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) I Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) I The
Movement of Independent Media / Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) I Freedom Film Network
(FFN) I National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) I Cambodian Journalists Alliance
Association (CamboJA) I Association of Journalists of Timor Leste (AJTL)