MIDEAST-CRISIS/JOURNALIST FUNERAL Damascus funeral for Syrian journalist killed in clashes

Record ID: 145998

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/JOURNALIST FUNERAL Damascus funeral for Syrian journalist killed in clashes
  • Date: 28th July 2015
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JULY 28, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE FUNERAL CONVOY MOVING WOMAN CRYING SYRIAN MINISTER OF INFORMATION OMRAN AL-ZOUBI (MIDDLE OF SHOT WEARING SUNGLASSES) AND HEAD OF SYRIAN JOURNALISTS UNION ELIAS MURAD (ON AL-ZOUBI'S LEFT WITH NO TIE) MOSQUE/SYRIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) THAER AL-AJLANI'S COLLEAGUE, THANA ALI, SAYING: "It's shameful that the world watches the huge number of martyrs and victims who die everyday. Whether they are Thaer, media martyrs, civilians or children. They are all martyrs. Every drop of blood that has fallen on Syrian soil is a shame on the world." PICTURE OF AL-AJLANI VARIOUS OF NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCES CARRYING THE COFFIN TO THE MOSQUE WOMAN CHANTING THE COFFIN ENTERING THE MOSQUE/PEOPLE CHANTING SOLDIERS STANDING IN SALUTE VARIOUS OF COFFIN BEING CARRIED/CHANTING PICTURE ON COFFIN PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ELIAS MURAD, HEAD OF SYRIAN JOURNALISTS UNION, SAYING: "His reports were neutral and were not directed to against one side. He would film a battle and report everything about it, regardless of what happened. If he could reach the other side, which is hard, he would have done this mission. He also reported any mistakes done by the government. He used to criticize it.'' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHANTING AS COFFIN IS CARRIED AWAY
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4CAIUAXMIR64V5135RI39MAVB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Scores of Syrians in Damascus lined the streets on Tuesday (July 28) for the funeral of Syrian journalist Thaer al-Ajlani, who was killed on Monday (July 27) during clashes in a suburb in the east of the city.
    The 30-year old father of two worked as a press officer for the Syrian National Defence Forces, and also worked for a number pro-government media outlets.
    One of his colleagues, Thana Ali, decried the frequent loss of life in the war torn country.
    "It's shameful that the world watches the huge number of martyrs and victims who die everyday. Whether they are Thaer, media martyrs, civilians or children. They are all martyrs. Every drop of blood that has fallen on Syrian soil is a shame on the world," she said.
    Al-Ajlani was active on social media and has more than 38,000 followers on his Facebook page.
    His last public post appeared early on Monday reporting that the Syrian army was firing rockets towards rebel positions.
    The head of the Syrian Journalists' Union, Elias Murad, said al-Ajlani reported the news as it was.
    "His reports were neutral and were not directed to against one side. He would filmed a battle and reported everything about it, regardless of what happened. If he could reach the other side, which is hard, he would have done this mission. He also reported any mistake done by the government. He used to criticize it," he said.
    More than 80 journalists have been killed while reporting on the Syrian conflict, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), with the war now in its fifth year.
    The war has killed close to a quarter of a million people and driven millions more from their homes in one of the worst global refugee crises since World War Two.
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