Photojournalist Syndicate Reveals Assault against Colleague by U.S. Embassy Guard
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Photojournalist Syndicate announced on Wednesday that one of their colleagues, Mohammed Aazair, was assaulted on Tuesday by one of the U.S. Embassy guards.
It said in a statement that the assault took place while U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman was visiting Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat at his Clemenceau residence in Beirut.
It added: “The security guard prevented Aazair from performing his duty in a militia manner.”
“What right does a security guard at a foreign embassy have in hindering the work of a photojournalist while he is performing his duty?” it asked.
The syndicate therefore called on President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and Information Minister Walid al-Daouq to condemn such behavior, “especially since photojournalists are working on providing the image of officials to the public.”
“The assault did not only target the Lebanese media, but the politicians who allow embassy security guards to attack the media,” it stressed.
The statement demanded that the necessary measures be taken to protect photojournalists while they are exercising their duty, calling for the “strictest of punishments be taken against violators”.
It warned that it may take escalatory measures should Aazair’s attacker fail to be held accountable for his action.
02 May 2012, 17:36
02
they need some time to realize that blackshirts and 7th may era is from the past,pre-bashar flu.
02 May 2012, 17:53
41
I think the guard acted under strict orders from the americans. This guard will be promoted and no one can touch him. Good old days when they had machine guns mounted on top of their SUVs.
02 May 2012, 18:43
15
"What right does a security guard at a foreign embassy ......................... performing his duty?", well try and apply this logic with the Iranian embassy security guards and see how far it will get you.
02 May 2012, 20:05
12
The photographer must have been overly aggressive to be confronted by the security guard. The US embassy guards are real pros and it's unlikely they would engage someone without provocation.
03 May 2012, 09:29
10
@applesandoranges
Why must u always compare.... if the guard is wrong, than he is wrong whether at the american, or iranian or southafrican or any other embassy. Its ppl like you that create a divide in the society. Grow up and try living abroad sometime
03 May 2012, 13:10
00
Deport them where?most of them are lebanese.and i am quit sure the one who attacked the journalist was a lebanese ou kebraneh el khasse bi rasso.
BTW Mr eramus ,i had a sweet experience with them when i was kept behind the fleet of cars from nahr el kal till ajaltoun,everytime i tried to overtake them on my motorbike the last car was blocking the way for me.
It is not my problem if they are worried about his security,as far as i know they can F OFF to somewhere in the states and the Iranian to Iran if they are worried here.
Cheers
