Picture of journalists and faith groups gathered at Cape Town’s St George Cathedral to honour slain reporters and condemn violence in Palestine on 13 August. Image Credit: Nuruniesa Isaacs / Radio 786
(The Post News)– Journalists in Cape Town and Johannesburg took to the streets this week, protesting and holding vigils in solidarity with Palestinians under siege in Gaza and reporters facing threats from the Israeli military.
These demonstrations follow an Israeli drone attack on 10 August that targeted and killed six Palestinian journalists and an assistant. Al Jazeera, which employed five of the media workers, condemned the attack.
The news organization said the attack aimed to “silence the voices” reporting on the bombardment, starvation, and siege in Gaza. They emphasized that it is a “premeditated attack on press freedom.” With 242 journalists killed while on the ground covering Gaza and no foreign access granted to foreign journalists unless they are media professionals, news publications globally have stood with the organization.
In Cape Town throughout the week, journalists and civilians have stood outside St. George’s Cathedral united in resistance and solidarity. They held posters of Al Jazeera media correspondent Anas al-Sharif, criticized Israel, and continued chanting “Free Palestine.”
Earlier today, Radio 786 was told by a journalist at the cathedral that he is “outraged by Israel targeting people who shouldn’t be attacked.” Christian participant Wendy said, “Not in our name.” She stood against attacks on Palestinians and criticized using faith to justify violence.
On the first day of protest, Gift of the Givers’ founder and one of the organizers of the demonstration, Imtiaz Sooliman, said, “We hope that today will be a turning point where media houses will put pressure on their government and the UN to send in troops into Gaza.”
Additionally, on Thursday, in Johannesburg, Journalists Against Apartheid organized a vigil outside the Al Jazeera offices. Dozens of local and international journalists gathered to honor the five slain media workers and condemn the attack on journalism.
Meanwhile, during the vigil, attendees boldly carried placards stating,”Journalismisnotacrime.” Organizer Mohammed Zahid Hassan expressed that the vigil is also for oppressed journalists everywhere.
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