UNESCO condemns killing of 2 journalists in Iraq

PARIS, June 22 (MENA) – The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, on Thursday denounced the killing of Kurdish journalist Bakhtyar Haddad and French reporter Stéphane Villeneuve in the city of Mosul, Iraq, UNESCO's official website reported.

“I condemn the killing of Bakthyar Haddad and Stéphane Villeneuve” said the Director-General. “Journalists face tremendous dangers in carrying out their job, a job where they provide us with vital information enabling us to build towards peace. I remind everyone that journalists are protected as civilians under the Geneva Conventions.”

Haddad, a reporter who worked as a fixer, assisting foreign reporters, and correspondent Stéphane Villeneuve, were working together in Mosul reporting for the France 2 program, “Envoyé special”.

They were covering the frontlines when a roadside bomb exploded, killing Haddad instantly and seriously injuring Villeneuve and other team members on 19 June. Villeneuve was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds within a few hours.