Al Jazeera Journalism Review

impunity outside
'Jamal Khashoggi Way' is unveiled outside of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in honour of the murdered Saudi-born journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, in Washington, US, on June 15, 2022. Now, President Biden has granted Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman immunity in a US lawsuit over Khashoggi's killing [Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters]

America and Israel are partners in denial of justice for journalists 

Both countries have a disgraceful history of disregard for the rights of media staff who are the victims of violence, particularly in conflict zones

 

The decades-long struggle against impunity in the targeting and killing of media staff has made significant progress in recent years. High-flown rhetoric from political leaders has been converted into a United Nations Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the launch of an International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on November 2.

But the world remains a hostile place for journalism. The latest UNESCO Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity shows that reporters are still victims of a continuing spiral of targeted violence.

According to the United Nations, of the 117 journalists killed for doing their job in 2020-2021, almost 80 per cent were killed while off duty in targeted attacks at home, in their vehicles or in the street. Some were killed in front of family members, including their children.

That’s why justice for journalists who are the victims of violence is not just about creating a safe working environment, it is also about holding to account the powerful people and institutions who order these attacks and carry them out.

However, too often the strategic, political and commercial interests of governments - even the most democratic of them - still get in the way of delivering basic justice.

Over the past month, for example, the United States and Israel, have been at the centre of two diplomatic rows involving pivotal cases concerning the denial of justice in the killing of journalists.

On November 18, President Joe Biden ruled that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be granted immunity in a US lawsuit over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the distinguished writer and Saudi dissident who was brutally killed and dismembered in October 2018 by Saudi agents in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. 

The US has sacrificed justice for Jamal Khashoggi to maintain friendly relations with Saudi Arabia

 

At the time, the US intelligence services suggested the operation was ordered by Prince Mohammed, and Joe Biden, then campaigning for election, criticised him over the killing. 

But times and political conditions have changed, to the extent that Washington is willing to allow the Prince to dodge a court action brought by Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, and the rights group he founded, Democracy for the Arab World Now. 

One reason, as set out by Justice Department attorneys in a document filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia, is that "the doctrine of head of state immunity is well established in customary international law". 

Well up to a point. According to academic research in the 20 years since 1990, some 65 heads of state have been prosecuted, many of them for human rights abuses and breaches of international humanitarian law.

In most cases, and in the absence of robust international legal instruments, bringing government leaders to book is a challenge given the political climate and the overwhelming priority given to defence of national self-interest. 

Although a US judge will ultimately rule on the question of immunity in the case of Prince Mohammed, journalism support groups and activists are rightly angry that the US has sacrificed justice for Khashoggi to maintain friendly relations with Saudi Arabia.

Biden had already indicated where his political sympathies lie when he famously fist-bumped the Crown Prince in July on a visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss energy and security issues. It may have been inevitable, therefore, that his focus on maintaining America’s longstanding alliance with Saudi Arabia would take precedence over human rights and justice, even for a courageous and notable journalist.

Meanwhile, a few days earlier another American ally, Israel, also trashed the notion of justice for journalism and press freedom when it dismissed plans for American investigators from the FBI to look into the controversial killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was shot dead by the Israeli army in May this year.

During the Iraq war, the US steadfastly refused to allow external investigation of incidents involving its soldiers where media staff were killed or injured

 

Shireen, one of the Arab world’s best-known journalists, who had covered the conflict for decades, was shot on May 11 while covering a military raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank for Al Jazeera. 

She was wearing equipment and body armour that was clearly marked “press”. What followed were multiple investigations by leading media, rights groups and international organisations which concluded that the veteran reporter was killed by an Israel soldier. Eyewitness testimony suggested it was a targeted strike.

Israel’s initial response was that she might have been killed by Palestinians, or she died in the crossfire of a firefight. Only after intense global protests by media and human rights groups did they carry out their own internal investigation. This found that although she had probably been killed by the Israeli Defence Force, it was an accident. No further action would be taken, and the case closed.

However, Shireen’s family, backed by her employer Al Jazeera, continued to press for the United States for more action and after months of pressure, supported by members of many members of Congress, the FBI agreed to take up the case.  

Israel immediately denounced the move. The FBI investigation, according to Defence Minister Benny Gantz, was nothing more than “interference in Israel’s internal affairs”. He said Israel "will not cooperate with any external investigation”.

In truth, few people with experience of investigating cases of impunity involving journalists over the years are surprised. Both Israel and the United States have a history of neglect and disregard for the rights of media staff who are the victims of violence, particularly in conflict zones. 

During the Iraq war, for example, the US steadfastly refused to allow external investigation of incidents involving its soldiers where media staff were killed or injured. 

Israel has been equally dismissive of appeals to allow independent investigation of numerous incidents of attacks on Palestinian media and journalists by its armed forces

 

A particularly notorious example was a tank assault on journalists staying at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad in 2003. Three journalists were killed, and others wounded. The US refused to co-operate with any external investigation although evidence later emerged from within the US military of a targeted attack and a Spanish judge named and indicted three US soldiers, he said were responsible.

And Israel has been equally dismissive of appeals to allow independent investigation of numerous incidents of attacks on Palestinian media and journalists by its armed forces. Where inquiries have taken place, they have been internal and usually self-serving in their conclusions.

One notable example, also in 2003, was the killing of American human rights activist Rachel Corrie who was crushed by an Israel army bulldozer. That led to an internal investigation and, as in the recent case of Shireen Abu Akleh, a finding that the death was accidental with no further action taken.

For the time being, the denial by Israel of the right of American law enforcement officers to investigate the killing of an American citizen abroad may complicate relations with Israel but it reinforces claims of an Israeli cover-up of Shireen’s death.

But this case, like so many that precede it, illustrates that for any campaign against impunity over violence against journalists to succeed, it will first have to ensure that governments are open to independent scrutiny, that they respect the rights of news media and, most of all, that they live up to their self-image as standard bearers of democracy and human rights. 

Aidan White is President of the Ethical Journalism Network and former General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists

 

 

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera Journalism Review’s editorial stance

 

 

 

More Articles

The Media Landscape in Sudan During the War

The ongoing war in Sudan has dismantled many media institutions, creating a vacuum filled by a vast stream of rumors and false information that has fueled internal conflict. A large segment of the public has turned to social media platforms in search of the truth, while some traditional media outlets continue to operate despite the targeting of their offices and journalists.

Mohammed Babiker Al-Awad
Mohammed Babiker Al-Awad Published on: 30 Apr, 2025
Western Media’s Double Standards on Muslim Women’s Suffering

When an Iranian student publicly protested against security forces by undressing, the moment garnered widespread attention in Western media. Meanwhile, even as 70 percent of those killed in Palestine are women and children, this ongoing violence—including the systematic killing, torture, and detention of Palestinian women—receives minimal coverage. This disparity raises urgent questions: How do Western media represent women’s issues in the Islamic world, and to what extent are such portrayals shaped by double standards?

Shaimaa Al-Eisai
Shaimaa Al-Eisai Published on: 24 Apr, 2025
Western Media Has Failed Their Palestinian Colleagues

A 2024 CPJ report revealed that nearly 70% of journalists killed that year were targeted by Israel, yet major Western media outlets largely ignored or downplayed the findings. The muted response to these targeted attacks and escalating press restrictions highlights a troubling double standard in the West’s commitment to press freedom.

Assal Rad
Assal Rad Published on: 21 Apr, 2025
Weaponizing the Law: SLAPPs Against Journalists and Press Freedom

SLAPPs—abusive lawsuits designed to silence journalists and activists—are surging across Southeast Asia, exploiting vague laws and weak protections to punish those who speak truth to power. As legal harassment intensifies, journalists face not only imprisonment and censorship but also emotional trauma, exile, and long-term damage to their careers.

AJR Contributor Published on: 17 Apr, 2025
Predicting the Future of Media in 2025

The rise of citizen journalism, the rethinking of long-form content, the evolution of video, and the exploration of AI opportunities are key elements of the media landscape forecast for 2025, according to a report from Harvard University's Nieman Lab.

Othman Kabashi
Othman Kabashi Published on: 15 Apr, 2025
Revisioning Journalism During a Genocide

Western media’s coverage of the Gaza genocide has revealed fundamental cracks in the notion of journalistic objectivity. Mainstream outlets have frequently marginalized or discredited Palestinian perspectives, often echoing narratives that align with Israeli state interests. In stark contrast, Palestinian journalists—reporting from within a besieged landscape—have become frontline truth-tellers. Through raw, emotional storytelling, they are not only documenting atrocities but also redefining journalism as a form of resistance and a reclaiming of ethical purpose.

Ana Maria Monjardino
Ana Maria Monjardino Published on: 4 Apr, 2025
How Media Drives Collective Adaptation During Natural Disasters in Oman

This paper highlights how Omani media, during times of natural disasters, focused on praising government efforts to improve its image, while neglecting the voices of victims and those affected by the cyclones. It also examines the media’s role in warning against and preventing future disasters.

Shaimaa Al-Eisai
Shaimaa Al-Eisai Published on: 31 Mar, 2025
Systematic Bias: How Western Media Framed the March 18 Massacre of Palestinians

On March 18, Israel launched a large-scale assault on Gaza, killing over 412 Palestinians and injuring more than 500, while Western media uncritically echoed Israel’s claim of “targeting Hamas.” Rather than exposing the massacre, coverage downplayed the death toll, delayed key facts, and framed the attacks as justified pressure on Hamas—further highlighting the double standard in valuing Palestinian lives.

Mei Shigenobu مي شيغينوبو
Mei Shigenobu Published on: 18 Mar, 2025
Misinformation in Syria: Natural Chaos or Organised Campaign?

Old videos inciting “sectarian strife,” statements taken out of context attacking Christians, scenes of heavy weaponry clashes in other countries, fabricated stories of fictitious detainees, and a huge amount of fake news that accompanied the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime: Is it the natural chaos of transition or a systematic campaign?

Farhat Khedr
Farhat Khedr Published on: 11 Mar, 2025
Trump and the Closure of USAID: A Candid Conversation on "Independent Media"

The impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to halt foreign funding through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Arab media platforms has largely gone undiscussed. Some of these platforms have consistently labelled themselves as "independent" despite being Western-funded. This article examines the reasons behind the failure of economic models for Western-funded institutions in the Arab world and explores the extent of their editorial independence.

Ahmad Abuhamad Published on: 9 Mar, 2025
The Sharp Contrast: How Israeli and Western Media Cover the War on Gaza

Despite being directly governed by Israeli policies, some Israeli media outlets critically report on their government’s actions and use accurate terminology, whereas Western media has shown complete bias, failing to be impartial in its coverage of Israel’s aggression in Gaza.

Faras Ghani Published on: 5 Mar, 2025
International Media Seek Gaza Access; What Do Palestinian Journalists Say?

As international media push for access to Gaza, Palestinian journalists—who have been the primary voices on the ground—criticize their Western counterparts for failing to acknowledge their contributions, amplify their reports, or support them as they risk their lives to document the war. They face systemic bias and exploitation, and continue to work under extreme conditions without proper recognition or support.

NILOFAR ABSAR
Nilofar Absar Published on: 26 Feb, 2025
Journalism and Artificial Intelligence: Who Controls the Narrative?

How did the conversation about using artificial intelligence in journalism become merely a "trend"? And can we say that much of the media discourse on AI’s potential remains broad and speculative rather than a tangible reality in newsrooms?

Mohammad Zeidan
Mohammad Zeidan Published on: 23 Feb, 2025
The Whispers of Resistance in Assad’s Reign

For more than a decade of the Syrian revolution, the former regime has employed various forms of intimidation against journalists—killing, interrogations, and forced displacement—all for a single purpose: silencing their voices. Mawadda Bahah hid behind pseudonyms and shifted her focus to environmental issues after a "brief session" at the Kafar Soussa branch of Syria’s intelligence agency.

Mawadah Bahah
Mawadah Bahah Published on: 18 Feb, 2025
Culture of silence: Journalism and mental health problems in Africa

The revealing yet underreported impact of mental health on African journalists is far-reaching. Many of them lack medical insurance, support, and counselling while covering sensitive topics or residing in conflicting, violent war zones, with some even considering suicide.

Derick Matsengarwodzi
Derick Matsengarwodzi Published on: 13 Feb, 2025
Tweets Aren’t News: Why Journalism Still Matters

Twitter, once key for real-time news, has become a battleground of misinformation and outrage, drowning out factual journalism. With major newspapers leaving, the challenge is to remind audiences that true news comes from credible sources, not the chaos of social media.

Ilya
Ilya U Topper Published on: 10 Feb, 2025
Will Meta Become a Platform for Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories?

Meta’s decision to abandon third-party fact-checking in favor of Community Notes aligns with Donald Trump’s long-standing criticisms of media scrutiny, raising concerns that the platform will fuel disinformation, conspiracy theories, and political polarization. With support from Elon Musk’s X, major social media platforms now lean toward a "Trumpian" stance, potentially weakening global fact-checking efforts and reshaping the online information landscape.

Arwa Kooli
Arwa Kooli Published on: 5 Feb, 2025
October 7: The Battle for Narratives and the Forgotten Roots of Palestine

What is the difference between October 6th and October 7th? How did the media distort the historical context and mislead the public? Why did some Arab media strip the genocidal war from its roots? Is there an agenda behind highlighting the Israel-Hamas duality in news coverage?

Said El Hajji
Said El Hajji Published on: 21 Jan, 2025
Challenges of Unequal Data Flow on Southern Narratives

The digital revolution has widened the gap between the Global South and the North. Beyond theories that attribute this disparity to the North's technological dominance, the article explores how national and local policies in the South shape and influence its narratives.

Hassan Obeid
Hassan Obeid Published on: 14 Jan, 2025
Decolonise How? Humanitarian Journalism is No Ordinary Journalism

Unlike most journalism, which involves explaining societies to themselves, war reporting and foreign correspondence explain the suffering of exoticised communities to audiences back home, often within a context of profound ignorance about these othered places. Humanitarian journalism seeks to counter this with empathetic storytelling that amplifies local voices and prioritises ethical representation.

Patrick Gathara
Patrick Gathara Published on: 8 Jan, 2025
Mastering Journalistic Storytelling: The Power of Media Practices

Narration in journalism thrives when it's grounded in fieldwork and direct engagement with the story. Its primary goal is to evoke impact and empathy, centering on the human experience. However, the Arab press has often shifted this focus, favoring office-based reporting over firsthand accounts, resulting in narratives that lack genuine substance.

AJR logo
Zainab Tarhini Published on: 7 Jan, 2025
I Resigned from CNN Over its Pro-Israel Bias

  Developing as a young journalist without jeopardizing your morals has become incredibly difficult.

Ana Maria Monjardino
Ana Maria Monjardino Published on: 2 Jan, 2025
Digital Colonialism: The Global South Facing Closed Screens

After the independence of the Maghreb countries, the old resistance fighters used to say that "colonialism left through the door only to return through the window," and now it is returning in new forms of dominance through the window of digital colonialism. This control is evident in the acquisition of major technological and media companies, while the South is still looking for an alternative.

Ahmad Radwan
Ahmad Radwan Published on: 31 Dec, 2024
Independent Syrian Journalism: From Revolution to Assad's Fall

Independent Syrian journalism played a pivotal role in exposing regime corruption and documenting war crimes during the 13-year revolution, despite immense risks to journalists, including imprisonment, assassination, and exile. Operating from abroad, these journalists pioneered investigative and open-source reporting, preserving evidence, and shaping narratives that challenged the Assad regime's propaganda.

Ahmad Haj Hamdo
Ahmad Haj Hamdo Published on: 17 Dec, 2024