South Sudanese journalists mourn slain reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, call for justice

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) – South Sudanese journalists gathered Wednesday at Al Jazeera’s office in the capital Juba to express their solidarity with the family of slain Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the news broadcaster.

Thirty-two journalists went to the office carrying placards bearing the late journalist’s image.

The head of Union of Journalists in South Sudan (UJOSS), Oyet Patrick, described Abu Akleh’s killing as a violation of human rights and called for justice.

Haithm Aweet, a Juba-based correspondent for Al Jazeera, said the death of their colleague Shireen Abu Akleh is a great lost to the media fraternity.

Majur Chol Kuol, a South Sudanese freelance journalist, said the death of Abu Akleh will create a huge gap due to her significant contributions to the media fraternity and family.

Rania Elsadig from the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) urged the media fraternity to continue writing with courage.

Elsadig encouraged the government to protect journalists by ensuring their safety so that they can disseminate information for public consumption.

On May 11, Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist, was covering an Israeli military raid near the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank when she was shot dead. Palestinian officials and the Doha-based Al Jazeera network said she was targeted by Israeli forces.