Belgian TV crew assaulted by a group of men in Beirut
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Belgian affiliate Vlaamse Vereniging van Journalisten (VVJ) in condemning the attack against Belgian journalists Robin Ramaekers and Stijn De Smet in Beirut. They were assaulted, beaten and shot at on Wednesday night after a group of men accused them of working for Israel. The EFJ calls for the assailants to be identified, prosecuted and convicted.
Ramaekers was hospitalised for injuries to his face, while De Smet had to be treated for gunshot wounds to the leg. Both are waiting to be evacuated as soon as possible.
The two journalists working for the Flemish independent broadcaster VTM, and their fixer, wanted to cover an explosion in central Beirut when they were accosted by a group of some 20 men who alleged they were spies. De Smet was shot twice in his leg, while Ramaekers and their fixer were taken to a basement, beaten and questioned for hours.
“The appalling lack of security and the lack of respect for the critical function of the press are downright hallucinatory,” reacted VVJ General Secretary Charlotte Michils, denouncing “the climate of insecurity and censorship”.
“We call on all the authorities involved, in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel, to protect journalists and allow them to do their work without fear of being targeted by the belligerents or any other assailant,” added EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez. “The attackers of the Belgian journalists must be identified, prosecuted and punished”.
In a statement today, the IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger recalls that “in 12 months, the IFJ has recorded at least 138 journalists’ deaths during the course of the war in Gaza. Of these, 127 were Palestinians, five Lebanese, four Israeli and one Syrian. This death toll represents the bloodiest period in the history of journalism.” Bellanger deplores the paralysis of the United Nations and denounces the international community’s lack of action: “If international justice delivers on its obligations, the leaders of Israel and Hamas should be in the dock facing charges ranging from war crimes to crimes against humanity. Many other political leaders should appear for complicity in those crimes”.
