Geneva: A widely circulated video from southern Syria has sparked global alarm over the misuse of the PRESS symbol, intended to protect journalists in conflict zones. The footage, shared across social media, allegedly shows Islamist fighters wearing jackets emblazoned with the PRESS emblem while vandalising a Druze house in Suwayda.
The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety organisation, has condemned this misuse, emphasising that the PRESS symbol must never serve as cover for combatants. While PEC cannot fully verify the video’s authenticity, the incident highlights a dangerous trend threatening journalists’ safety.
In Gaza, allegations persist that Hamas fighters have disguised themselves as journalists, complicating the environment for legitimate reporters and providing a pretext for Israeli forces to target media workers. The misuse of the PRESS emblem in both regions – Gaza and Suwayda – undermines journalists’ ability to access conflict zones safely, turning a protective symbol into a potential target.
Globally, PEC reports that 92 media workers have been killed since January 1, 2025, a sharp rise from the previous year. PEC South & Southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informs that India lately lost another media worker to assailants. Odisha-based journalist Chintakayalu Naresh Kumar was murdered on July 12, 2025, in Muruliguda.
Kumar, who worked for the YouTube channel Times Odia, was brutally attacked by assailants, with police arresting suspects Sukumar Ray and Konkan Jordar. His death follows the killings of Indian journalists Mukesh Chandrakar, Raghavendra Vajpayee, Sahadev Dey, and Dharmendra Singh Chauhan earlier in 2025, all targeted for their reporting.
PEC President Blaise Lempen has called for thorough investigations to bring perpetrators to justice and urged stronger protections for journalists. The organisation advocates for stricter regulations on PRESS symbol usage and enhanced credential verification to prevent abuse by non-journalists, including combatants and criminals.
Without urgent action, the PRESS emblem risks losing its protective power, leaving journalists increasingly vulnerable in their pursuit of truth amid rising violence and deception.
– global bihari bureau
