The Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has voiced a strong condemnation against the continued targeting of journalists by Israeli security forces amidst the conflict in Gaza. His concerns were outlined in a statement released by Rabiu Ibrahim, his Special Assistant on Media. The minister’s remarks were made during his address at the Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, which focused on the theme: ‘Israeli Government’s Disinformation and Hostilities Against Journalists During the Israeli Occupation of Palestine’, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday, February 24, 2024.
Represented by Ambassador Zayyad Abdul-Salam, the Head of Mission of the Nigerian Embassy in Turkey, Idris highlighted the grave situation faced by journalists in the conflict zone. He pointed out that journalists have been experiencing harassment, intimidation, violence, and even fatalities while performing their professional responsibilities. Citing statistics from the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), he noted that approximately 88 journalists and media workers have lost their lives since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023.
Idris urged fellow Information Ministers from Islamic Conference member states to strongly denounce the violations against the media and stand in solidarity with media professionals who are dedicated to reporting on the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. He stressed the importance of maintaining an unwavering commitment to the truth, ensuring a safe environment for the media, and opposing any efforts to misrepresent the situation in Palestine.
The minister also encouraged strategic communication, advocacy, and collaboration among his peers to support journalists who report on human rights abuses and the suffering of the Palestinian people. He emphasized the significance of press freedom, freedom of expression, and the right to information as cornerstones of democracy and governance that must be protected.
Concluding his address, Idris called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and reiterated Nigeria’s stance on seeking a two-state solution to the Palestinian crisis. He underscored the necessity of respecting and upholding the rights and sovereignty of both Palestinian and Israeli peoples to achieve lasting peace in the region.