PARIS: The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Niraz Saied, a photojournalist whose demise in detention in Syria was announced on 16 July.
“I wish to express my condolences to the family of Niraz Saied,” said the Director-General.
“I urge the authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Niraz Saied, his long detention, and death in custody.
“It is the duty of governments everywhere to respect due process of law. UNESCO is deeply committed to promoting the safety of journalists because freedom of speech is a fundamental right, essential for any society.”
The widow of Saied announced her husband’s death on 16 July, but information about the date or cause of his demise were not available.
Saied who documented life in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus had been in detention since October 2015.
In 2014, aged 23, he won a photo contest organized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, and the European Union.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity-building and a range of actions, notably the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
