The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation on Thursday condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was fatally shot while covering an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin on 11 May.

Executive Director in the Ministry, Ambassador Penda Naanda, in a statement said her killing comes days after World Press Freedom Day was celebrated on 03 May, which acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press and media freedom and in remembrance of journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Naanda said “freedom of expression is the core of human individuality and is one of the essential foundations of a safe and prosperous society.”

“Media freedom has been and remains an important part of democratic societies, which is essential to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he stated.

Naanda stressed that the work of the media is of paramount importance in times of conflict and that society needs a free media to provide it with accurate information and analysis to hold governments to account for their actions.

The ED, therefore, called on the Israeli authorities to conduct a swift investigation into Abu Akleh’s killing and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency