Syrian journalist Hussam Hammoud has collaborated with French and foreign media for years, including Radio France, Mediapart, The world, France 24, BFMTV, The Guardian or BBC. He has signed landmark investigations into terrorism and the crimes of ISIS, an organization he has always fought against. He was forced to hastily flee Raqqa in October 2019 after the international coalition withdrew from the area. Since then, he has found refuge in Turkey, where he continues his journalistic work, particularly on the financing of the Islamic State. And where he is again threatened by terrorist groups.
On Monday, September 5, Hussam Hammoud was denied a humanitarian visa request by France in a brief letter. He hoped that if it was accepted, as it was with other Syrian journalists, he would be able to apply for asylum and provide asylum to his family. At 30, he feels that his life and dreams are his “destroyed”. Denying him this visa means keeping him under the threat of armed groups and endangering his life.
In the spring of 2019, with the help of French journalist Céline Martelet, he provided unpublished documents on ISIS to the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office, which then acknowledged: “Very important work”. Like thousands of Syrian refugees in Turkey, Husam Hamoud is at risk of being deported to Syria, where death awaits him. he has already been tortured by foreign jihadists.
France cannot remain silent and indifferent to its fate when it has the power to act and protect a journalist who risked his life to inform our fellow citizens, and who today is more than ever in danger because of the work he does.
France cannot remain silent and indifferent to its fate
In 2021, Afghan journalist Elyaas Ehsas was already close to deportation (Sweden) because France refused to examine his request for protection, while his relatives were evacuated by the French authorities after the fall of Kabul. After months of hiding and mobilization, he was finally allowed to apply for asylum in France.
We, the trade unions and journalism companies that signed this call, urge the government, particularly the Ministries of Interior and Culture, to grant Hussam Hamoud a humanitarian visa for the sake of freedom of information and awareness, which are our pillars. democracy and give him major recognition for his contribution to the defense of our values and our security.
Let’s not leave the journalist thus exposed in Turkey, who can at any time hand him over to the authorities of a country he left because he was killed there. Our rule of law cannot afford such dignity.
Signatories of this press release :
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Unions: SNJ, SNJ-CGT, CFDT journalists
Companies of journalists and/or staff of AFP, Arrêt sur images, Arte, BFMTV, Courrier international, The reactionsEurope 1, France 2, France 24, franceinfo.fr, FranceInfoTV, Le Figaro, Challenges, L’Huma, JDD, LibéLCI, MariannaMediapart, The worldM6, NRJ group, L’Obs, Paris Match, Le Parisien-Today in FranceFirst lines, Radio France, RFI, RMC, RTL, Southwest, TeleramaTF1, Tribune, New Factory, Lifethe design of politics
Source: Le Figaro
