Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has condemned the killing of media worker Najm el-Din Faisal Haj Sinan, employed by Kurdish broadcaster Jin TV, calling on the authorities to launch an immediate investigation. Sinan was killed in a Turkish drone strike in northeastern Syria on 23 August.
“I deplore the killing of Najm el-Din Faisal Haj Sinan. I reiterate my call to the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict,” Azoulay stated.
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Najm el-Din Faisal Haj Sinan was employed as a driver for Jin TV, an all-female Kurdish broadcaster. He was killed on 23 August when a drone targeted a vehicle carrying Kurdish journalists near Til Siir village between Qamushli (Qamişlo) and Amuda (Amûdê) in northern Syria, approximately 15 km from the Turkish border. Reporter Delila Agit lost her left arm and suffered a serious neck injury in the same strike.
Azoulay further urged “the authorities” to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222, which calls for the protection of journalists in conflict zones. “I urge them to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice,” she added.
However, the UNESCO Chief did not explicitly identify Turkey as the perpetrator of the drone attack, nor did she specify which authorities should comply with Resolution 2222 and conduct an investigation.
