Tunis: Journalism is ultimately a humanitarian message and a national duty, and we have tried to fulfil this duty as fully as possible, and I think we have succeeded,” said Wael al-Dahdouh, a Palestinian journalist and “symbol of resistance”.
He was speaking at the headquarters of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT), where he was received on Monday as part of a week-long visit to Tunisia at the invitation of the union.
“We tried to set an example (in the field of war journalism) despite all the trials and tribulations, and I believe that we, as Palestinian journalists, succeeded in doing so, even though the price we paid was very high. I believe that such a sacred and humanitarian mission deserves the high price we have paid and are still paying”.
He expressed his hope that this visit would be “a good opening for cooperation for the cause of journalism and journalists, and for human rights in general, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to know”. The latter
“has been absent for years behind masks, obfuscation, falsification and confiscation of this right,” he stressed.
“We in the field exercised our natural right, guaranteed by law, and carried out this noble humanitarian mission. I hope that we succeeded in communicating what they wanted to hide, confiscate and suppress, so that all the plans could be carried out in silence. I think we have done that despite everything and despite the pain that you have seen live”.
He also said that this war “came to expose and remove the masks from the faces of many institutions that preached about freedom of opinion and expression and the right to know”.
He expressed his gratitude for the waves of solidarity with Palestine not only in Tunisia but all over the world, including the United States, which strengthen the Palestinians and motivate them to continue their steadfastness.
For his part, president of the SNJT, Ziad Dabbar, expressed the solidarity of all Tunisian journalists with Wael al-Dahdouh and all Palestinian jo
urnalists.
He prayed for the souls of the journalists who are martyrs of word and image and for the souls of all martyrs of Palestine.
Dabbar stressed that the Palestinian cause remains the central Tunisian cause, based on the firm conviction of the justice of this cause and the inevitability of supporting all liberation causes in the world, expressing Tunisia’s pride in the steadfastness of the brave Palestinian people.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse