New York, December 16, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of Ahmed Mohamed al-Mousa, a member of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. Al-Mousa was killed today by a group of masked men in Idlib, Syria, according to the citizen journalist group, which CPJ honored last month with its 2015 International Press Freedom Award.
“Just a few weeks ago, nearly 900 journalists, press freedom advocates, and supporters attending CPJ’s International Press Freedom Awards stood together in solidarity with Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. Today we are all standing together again, this time in mourning,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “We pledge to work tirelessly to seek justice for Ahmed Mohamed al-Mousa and all other murdered journalists in Syria.”
At least two other members of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently have been murdered since the group was founded in April 2014. In October 2015, Ibrahim Abd al-Qader was killed by Islamic State militants, along with fellow journalist Fares Hamadi, in Urfa, southeastern Turkey. In May 2014, Al-Moutaz Bellah Ibrahim was kidnapped by Islamic State and murdered. In a two-part video series released earlier this year, Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of al-Mousa’s father and four other Syrians accused of being members of the group. Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently told CPJ none of the victims were members of its group.