Mohammadreza Norouzpour and Pedram Pak-Ayin Condemn the Killing of Fatemeh Fotouhi and Ali Shaib, Journalists of Al-Manar and Al-Mayadeen Networks in Lebanon
Mohammadreza Norouzpour and Pedram Pak-Ayin, Iranian media executives, in separate statements condemned the killing of journalists from Al-Manar and Al-Mayadeen networks in Lebanon during an Israeli regime attack.
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, Mohammadreza Norouzpour, Deputy for Media and Public Relations at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, strongly condemned the deaths of Ali Shaib and Fatemeh Fotouhi, journalists of Al-Manar and Al-Mayadeen, in a direct Israeli attack on a vehicle carrying the media team in the Jezzine area in southern Lebanon, in a post on his Instagram page.
The Deputy Minister for Media Affairs wrote:
“The killing of Ali Shaib and Fatemeh Fotouhi, journalists of Al-Manar and Al-Mayadeen networks, in a direct attack by the Israeli regime on a vehicle carrying a media team in the Jezzine area, southern Lebanon, is a blatant crime against truth, against the people’s right to be informed, and against the fundamental principle of the safety of media personnel in conflict zones. Reports also indicate the death of Mohammad Fotouhi, Fatemeh’s brother and a cameraman for Al-Mayadeen, in the same attack; an element that makes this assault clearly a deliberate targeting of media rather than a mere aggression.”
“When vehicles carrying journalists and recognized media personnel are targeted, it can no longer be called an ‘error’ or ‘mistake.’ This is an attack on witnesses to crimes and an effort to silence their narratives and images. Such actions constitute a clear violation of human rights, an explicit breach of international law, and a direct assault on the status of civilian journalists during conflicts and wars.”
“This brutal action by the Zionists to suppress media has a long history. Since October 7, more than 269 journalists in occupied Palestine, Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and southern Lebanon have been killed, including Shireen Abu Aqleh, who was directly shot by occupying forces in the city of Jenin, occupied Palestine.”
“Remaining silent in the face of this crime is not only indifference to the blood of journalists and media personnel; it is silence in the face of the murder of truth and justice.”
“We strongly condemn this criminal and inhumane action by the Israeli regime and call on all media outlets, free journalists, press unions, freedom of expression advocates, and the world’s awakened consciences not to remain silent in the face of this targeted killing. Defending Fatemeh Fotouhi and Ali Shaib is not about defending a particular media outlet or a country; it is defending media integrity, freedom, and people’s right to access the truth. If the world remains silent in the face of the murder of journalists today, tomorrow no respect will remain for human life, media, or truth.”
Furthermore, Pedram Pak-Ayin, representative of media executives in the Press Supervisory Board, described the killing of the two journalists of Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar as a war crime and emphasized that the U.S. and Israel, by manipulating public opinion, seek to conceal their military failures and the humanitarian disasters caused by their actions.
Pedram Pak-Ayin, in his personal account on X, wrote:
“The killing of Fatemeh Fotouhi and Ali Shaib, two journalists of Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar, in attacks by the Israeli regime is a clear war crime. The U.S. and Israel, by distorting reality and manipulating public opinion, aim to hide their military failures and the human tragedies resulting from their actions.”
According to the report, following the Israeli army’s attack on a vehicle carrying journalists in southern Lebanon, Ali Shaib — a journalist of Al-Manar, Fatemeh Fotouhi — a journalist of Al-Mayadeen, and Mohammad Fotouhi — a news photographer, were killed.
