OSCE Media Freedom Representative condemns murder of American-Syrian journalist Halla Barakat and her mother Orouba Barakat

VIENNA, 23 September 2017 – “Brutal killing of an American-Syrian journalist and her mother, both reporting about the situation in Syria, highlights the dangers that critical journalists face in their work,” said today OSCE Media Freedom Representative Harlem Désir.

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of Orouba and Halla Barakat, and send my deepest condolences to their family and friends," said Désir. "I trust that the ongoing investigation by the Turkish authorities will quickly reveal both the perpetrators and the masterminds, who should face the full extent of the law."

Halla Barakat worked as a freelance journalist for various media outlets including Orient News, TRT World and ABC News. Her mother, Orouba Barakat was a well-known Syrian human rights activist regularly reporting on the atrocities in Syria. They were found dead on 21 September in Istanbul where they lived. Turkish police launched an investigation and estimate that they were killed four or five days ago. Colleagues of Halla Barakat said that both victims had received death threats for their work via social media and emails.

Désir recalled that at least four other Syrian journalists were murdered in Turkey for their work in the last two years. "Impunity for killings of journalists must not be tolerated.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.