In the early morning of Thursday (26/12/2013), armed men abducted seven media activists and members of the “I am Syrian” Group, who work at the office of TV channel “Shada al-Hurriya” in al-Kalasa, Aleppo.
During the abduction operation, one of the activists refused to listen to orders given by the abducting group. Consequently, he was shot, which led to injuries in his head and stomach. He was left to bleed on the street, whilst the abducting group prevented anyone from assisting him.
And as we write this report, the seven activists remain in custody by this group, whose identity and reason for abduction remains unknown.
This operation is part of a number of operations which have targeted members of the media and photographers who work for local and international media organisations. Some have been released, whilst most remain in custody and their fates are unknown. It is thought that ISIL is behind these attacks, since their involvement in a number of cases has been confirmed, as well as witnesses who have seen media activists in their prisons.
Those abducted are:
1- Maher Hasroomi
2- Ameen Abu Mohammed
3- Saifullah al-Hurr
4- Tayim al-Shaami
5- Sultan al-Shaami
6- Abu Yunus
7- Abdullah Mohammed – the abductors shot his stomach and head.
SHRC strongly condemns the criminal acts of abducting media activists, and calls upon all civic and political bodies in the areas controlled by the opposition to put their utmost effort into revealing their whereabouts of the abducted media activists and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Syrian Human Rights Committee
26/12/2013