Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

Second American journalist beheaded by ISIS terrorists

By

A new video has been posted on the internet purported to show Islamic State militants beheading American journalist Steven Sotloff.

1908054_907589372588986_6089044814080691202_n.siThe Associated Press and the SITE Intel Group, an organization that tracks the online activity of terrorist groups, both reported on Tuesday that the Islamic State has posted a video of the execution barely two weeks after the group formerly known as ISIS published a similar clip of American photojournalist James Foley suffering the same fate.

“I’m back, Obama, and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State,” a masked militant believed to be the same who executed Foley addresses the president in the latest video.

Kneeling in an orange jump suit, Sotloff is seen in the clip reading a statement to the president as Foley did before him.

“Obama, your foreign policy of intervention in Iraq was supposed to be for preservation of American lives and interests, so why is it that I am paying the price of your interference with my life?” Sotloff asks.

“As your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike necks of your people,” the masked man says before killing Sotloff. Another captured civilian — David Cawthorne Haines of the UK — will be the next murdered unless “this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State” ends, militants warn in the video.

The White House could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the latest video, “A Second Message to America,” but press secretary Joshua Earnest said during a briefing on Tuesday that the administration’s “thoughts and prayers” are with Sotloff’s family. Jen Psaki, a spokesperson for the US Department of State, said she was “sickened” by the news, and British Prime Minister David Cameron called it an “absolutely disgusting, despicable act.”

A 31-year-old freelance journalist who has written for Time magazine and the Christian Science Monitor, among others, Sotloff was kidnapped near Aleppo, Syria in August 2013. According to a profile published in the New York Times last month, Sotloff’s family tried desperately during the last year to keep his abduction quiet due to fears that the publicity would endanger him further, but changed course recently after the Islamic State warned that he’d be among the next executed lest the United State end its campaign against the militants.

Upon release of the Foley video last month, the Islamic State demanded that US President Barack Obama cease attacks on the group or else risk Sotloff becoming the next casualty of the group’s violent campaign in Iraq and Syria.

Sotloff’s fate, a militant warned Pres. Obama last month, “depends on your next decision.” In response, Sotloff’s mother posted a minute-and-a-half-long video plea asking Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to release her son.

“You, the caliph, can grant amnesty. I ask you please to release my child. I ask you to use your authority to spare his life,” Shirley Sotloff pleaded.

Azerbaijani Journalist, Rights Activist Severely Beaten

By

By RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service

370C6206-C253-4E57-BD27-9F20951D8FFD_w640_r1_s_cx0_cy21_cw0An Azerbaijani journalist and rights activist has been badly beaten by unknown assailants in the country’s Naxcivan exclave.

Ilgar Nasibov was attacked late on August 21 while he was in the office of the Naxcivan Resource Center, the only independent rights organization operating in the province.

Nasibov, who was found unconscious, suffered severe head trauma, a broken nose, fractured ribs, and serious blood loss.

A photograph of Nasibov after the attack shows his eyes swollen shut from the beating.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic said that “this criminal act has an enormous chilling effect on free expression and free media” and she urged the Azerbaijani authorities to bring Nasibov’s attackers to justice.

International rights groups have been complaining about a crackdown by Azerbaijani authorities on rights activists.

Four of the leading activists in the country have been detained and charged with serious crimes in recent weeks.

Turkey: A famous journalist facing jail for his book on the revolt Gezi

By

June 17, 2014 opened the third hearing of the trial against journalist Erol Özkoray for his book “The phenomenon Gezi”. The book published in July 2013 provides a socio-arton100868-480x368political analysis of the protest movement “Occupy Gezi” brutally suppressed by security forces during the summer of 2013. Not less than 153 journalists were injured and 39 others arrested while covering the protests.

Erol Özkoray is accused of “insult” against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a chapter identifying various slogans and graffiti drawn on the walls of Istanbul at the time of troubles. Under Article 125 of the Criminal Code, the journalist faces an aggravated one year to 32 months in prison for “insulting a representative of the State” sentence. The trial began March 20, 2014 before the Criminal Court of Istanbul.

“One year after the protests, the authorities continue to criminalize the movement Occupy Gezi ‘and its news coverage, laments Johann Bihr, office manager Eastern Europe and Central Asia Reporters Without Borders. By attacking a celebrity Erol Özkoray figure, they send a clear warning to all civil society. “

“It is unacceptable that a journalist facing jail for what he has done that report. We ask the dropping of charges and an immediate release of journalist. This case reiterates the urgency to overhaul the Turkish legislation, including decriminalizing libel and insult. “

The indictment signed by the prosecutor, Hasan Bölükbasi criticizes Erol Özkoray have quoted in his book slogans such as: “Do not be a donkey, listen to the people”, “You are disgraced resigns, “or even” Tayyip, it is not your fault if you have been born. “ Co-author of the book, Nurten Özkoray, is meanwhile not continue.

Prominent Azerbaijani journalist deported from Turkey

By

Journalist, correspondent of Azerbaijani newspaper “Zerkalo” Rauf Mirkadirov was deported from Turkey. According to the Azerbaijani news agency “Turan” Mirkadirov’s family has remained in Turkey.

Journalist DeportedEarlier the news agency has reported that Rauf Mirkadyrov was arrested in Ankara on Friday. The journalist’s wife told “Turan” that the police has drop them off the bus with the child, they checked their documents and took her husband away. To the question what the matter was, she was told that his documents had expired. Later, Mirkadyrov wife was told that he was to be deported without explanation of the reasons.

The agency notes that Rauf Mirkadirov lives with his family in Ankara for three years already. He actively writes on international topics and has criticized Erdogan government policy in his articles many times.

There is no doubt that the real reason for his arrest and deportation is his journalistic activities. It was impossible to get a comment on this matter from the Azerbaijani Embassy to Ankara, the article reads.

As Elchin Shikhli, editor of “Zerkalo”, told “Turan” the pressure on Rauf Mirkadirov had started two weeks ago. “He was suddenly deprived of accreditation. After that, we turned to the Turkish Ambassador to Baku and the Azerbaijani embassy to Ankara. They gave no response. Moreover, the efforts of the lawyer, to appeal the deprivation of the accreditation, were not even considered. Rauf later was told to leave Turkey until April 23 and never return back again. On April 18, he decided to leave the country, and when he was arrested, he told the police that he was leaving already, and there were no reasons to detain him. However, apparently, the authorities of the brotherly country needed to deport the objectionable journalist from the country publically,” said the editor.

The article recalls that in February another Azerbaijani journalist, 27-year-old Mahir Zeinalov, was deported from Turkey. He was a correspondent for the Turkish newspaper Today Zaman.

Source: Panorama.am