Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh 2022
In a talk with journalists in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasanis described the journalists’ final moments “Around half past six in the morning, as four of the journalists turned into the street leading to the camp, wearing bulletproof helmets and flak jackets with ‘PRESS’ markings, several single, seemingly well-aimed bullets were fired towards them from the direction of the Israeli Security Forces. One single bullet injured Ali Sammoudi in the shoulder. Another single bullet hit Abu Akleh in the head and killed her instantly.”
More than 50 slain Palestinian Journalists
UN News, June 24, 2022, “Abu Akleh shooting: fatal shot came from Israeli forces, says OHCHR,” https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/06/1121252
Westward Sphere of ImpunityThe nature of the Villain
Sometimes considered a form of “denialism” (truth is false/is isn’t) of historical crimes—Impunity is action exempt or free from punishment, harm, or loss; and is prevalent in situations in which judiciary institutions are weak and or members of the “security forces” are protected by “special jurisdictions or immunities.”Denialism means a claim, sense, or belief “that something did not happen (is untrue)—when that thing, phenomenon or event “is generally accepted” as existing, having happened (is true).
In the international law of human rights, “impunity is failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice; and, as such, itself (i.e., IIHR) constitutes a denial of victims’ right to justice and redress.” References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impunity, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/denialism, Merriam-Webster
“End Impunity”
“The lack of accountability, the lack of justice is what pushes me to advocate for my Aunt Shireen”— Niece of Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Lina Abu Akleh Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. “Getting justice and getting her message across continues to motivate me in this pursuit.” UN News November 11, 2022, “UN Human Rights Council inquiry hears testimonies on Shireen Abu Akleh killing” https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/11/1130482
UN Report 2023
- 86 Journalists Slain in 2022
- 55 Journalists Slain in 2021— UNESCO’s most recent figures UN News, January 17, 2023, “Killings of journalists up 50 percent in 2022: UNESCO” https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1132507
Shireen Abu Akleh Case a Year later
“Despite the international outcry, various reports and calls for justice, the international community has provided only lip service to the millions of people who have been fighting for justice for the slain journalist.” Press TV News Feature by Maryam Qarehgozlou, May 11, 2023, “A year after Shireen Abu Akleh’s murder, fight for justice drags on,” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/05/11/703180/Palestinian-journalist-anniversary-Abu-Akleh-Israeli-killing
“On the morning of May 11, 2022, senior Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Abu Akleh, 51, was fatally shot by Israeli regime forces, with bullets piercing her head, while she was covering a military raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.”
Russia’s Dugina, Tatarsky, Prilepin
Journalist Dugina 2022
On the evening of August 20, 2022, Russian journalist Darya Dugina was killed when her car exploded while traveling along a highway near the village of Bolshiye Vyazyomy in the Moscow Region. “Dugina had travelled to the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics during the summer where she covered events there.”Regarding the assassination, the Federal Security Service (FSB) told TASS that the killing “had been masterminded by the Ukrainian secret services and executed by Ukrainian national Natalia Vovk who fled to Estonia following the crime.” TASS August 22, 2022, “Slain journalist Darya Dugina was sole target of Ukrainian intelligence,” https://tass.com/society/1496927
Moscow native journalist, political scientist and activist Darya Aleksandrovna Dugina: December 15, 1992 – August 20, 2022 (encyclopedic source).
Journalist Tatarsky 2023
An improvised explosive device planted and detonated in a St. Petersburg, Russia, café on April 2, 2023, killed prominent war correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky (his real name Maksim Fomin) and wounded 32 other people. The slain journalist, a native of Donbass, “reported regularly on the battlefield developments in Donbass.” He was also author of several books. In January 2023, “Kiev had placed sanctions” on Tatarsky.RT news April 2, 2023, “Blast that killed Russian war blogger: What we know so far: Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in an attack allegedly from an improvised explosive device that also injured 32,” https://www.rt.com/russia/574047-blast-killed-russian-war-blogger/
Journalist Prilepin 2023
On a road not far from the city of Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia, novelist, journalist and political activist Zakhar Prilepin (born Evgeny Prilepin in 1975 in the village of Ilyinka in western Russia) suffered wounds from a car bombing that killed his personal assistant who was at the wheel at the time of the incident. Prilepin had reportedly visited the war zone many times after an armed conflict broke out between Ukrainian troops and Donbass forces.In 2018 Ukraine banned the author’s books; and, in 2022, the European Union “blacklisted” him “as part of the sanctions imposed on Russia over its military operation launched in the neighboring state more than a year ago.”RT News, May 6, 2023, “Who is Zakhar Prilepin, the Russian ‘nationalist’ writer injured in a car bombing? The prolific novelist and pundit is in critical condition after the blast,” https://www.rt.com/russia/575890-prilepin-injured-car-blast/
Posthumously
“Russian public figure and journalist Dugina “dedicated … to helping Donbass; organized the collection and delivery of humanitarian packages; actively covered the special military operation and did her best to report truthful information about the situation in the war zone and the liberated territories.”
A Few Final thoughts
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nd the wars and aggression.
When dastardly deeds are not committed, there is no need for denials or falsehoods, cover-ups and silencing of
messengers.
Discipline rules and frees.
Demand and ensure that all people and entities (including oneself) are bound by law and objective standards and are judged independently and impartially by independent tribunals.
If and when people in influential positions (or people of influence—whatever the nature or root of that influence might be—are incapable of or unwilling to discipline themselves, then firm institutions of law must exact and impose discipline upon them. This does not mean mere lawsuits, denial of wrongdoing, and settlements.
“No one is above the law” is an empty slogan—fakery, a foolish gesture (like “thoughts and prayers” and “thanks for your service”), a manipulative tactic, a fool’s mantra—if those who mouth the phrase could care less, are allowed impunity, lawlessness without check or chastisement: allowed to exempt themselves from the rule of law. The phrase is without meaning (as empty as American leaders' “humanitarianism” and “democracy”) if and when it is applied capriciously or conveniently; never to those who mouth it, and never to their “friends.”
Sadists—people who are insensitive to or careless of their own acts of cruelty, whether hands-on, legislated or acquiesced; and unprincipled people commit unspeakable, unconscionable acts in words, in negligence, and in deeds.
It takes a strong person to look inward: to look unblinkingly at oneself. It takes humility and courage to hear others and to admit wrong and make amends. It takes courage judiciously to mend one’s ways and change course.
No society local or global can function in good health when people of influence are lacking in basic moral principles.
It seems to me that at least one principle should stand out, strong, and far above the rest.
“Thou shall not kill.” And to that
“Thou shall not covet or steal or bear false witness.”
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