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Geneva/Guwahati: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media rights body, has strongly condemned the misuse of the “PRESS” emblem by armed fighters in conflict zones like Syria and Gaza. The organization expressed concern that such misuse puts genuine journalists at greater risk.
A video widely shared on social media shows Islamist fighters in southern Syria wearing jackets marked “PRESS” while vandalizing a Druze home in Suwayda. Though PEC could not verify the authenticity of the footage, it stressed that the PRESS symbol should never be used as a disguise by combatants.
Similar concerns have emerged from Gaza, where Hamas fighters are reportedly using press identities, potentially giving opposing forces an excuse to target media personnel. “Such misuse complicates the already dangerous work of real journalists in conflict zones,” said PEC President Blaise Lempen.
Highlighting another grave concern, Lempen revealed that 92 media workers have been killed globally since January 2025— a sharp rise from the previous year. He called for thorough investigations and justice in every case.
In India, PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria reported the recent killing of Chintakayalu Naresh Kumar, an online journalist from Odisha associated with YouTube channel Times Odia. He was brutally attacked by a group of miscreants in Muruliguda on July 12.
Earlier this year, India also saw the deaths of journalists Mukesh Chandrakar, Raghavendra Vajpayee, Sahadev Dey, and Dharmendra Singh Chauhan.
PEC continues to advocate for press freedom and the safety of journalists around the world.
