SHOOT THE MESSENGER: Egyptian forces thought to be targeting media workers

Sky news cameraman and Gulf newspaper reporter shot dead near Cairo amid crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters

Martin Chulov and Josh Halliday

The Guardian, Wednesday 14 August 2013

 

"A Sky News camerman and a reporter for a Gulf newspaper have been shot dead and at least four other colleagues wounded by gunfire, stoking fears that Egyptian forces deliberately targeted media workers during the crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

Michael Deane and Habiba Ahmad Abd Elaziz were killed by sniper fire near Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in northeast Cairo. Two cameramen, whose identities are yet to be confirmed, were also shot and wounded as they stood on a stage near the centre of the site, which had become a focal point of Brotherhood supporters since their leader was ousted as president almost six weeks ago.
Photographs posted on Twitter around the same time showed the two wounded men, who were identified by bystanders as cameramen. A helmet of the type worn by many media professionals in Cairo was also displayed with a penetrating hole in its side likely caused by a bullet. A Reuters photographer, Asmaa Waguih, was also shot in the leg, medics and her colleagues said. An Associated Press photographer was hit in the back of the neck by two shotgun pellets, but later returned to work, the agency reported......

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was investigating several attacks on journalists and urged Egyptian authorities to "show restraint and allow the media to do their job."
"We call on Egyptian authorities to issue clear orders to security forces to respect the right of journalists to work freely and safely while covering events in Cairo and the rest of the country," said deputy director Robert Mahoney....."