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July 21, 2024 – Lebanon/Israel –
Lebanese photojournalist Christina Assi, a staffer with Agence France-Presse (AFP), took part in the Olympic torch relay in Vincennes, France, on July 21, 2024, symbolizing solidarity with journalists wounded or killed in conflict zones.
Assi was severely injured on October 13, 2023, during an Israeli shelling incident near the Israel-Lebanon border. The strike claimed the life of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and wounded six others from AFP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera. Assi suffered grave injuries to her right leg, which was later amputated.
During the torch relay, Assi was assisted by her injured AFP colleague, videographer Dylan Collins, who pushed her wheelchair as they bore the flame through the Paris suburb to a cheering crowd of spectators and fellow journalists. She paid tribute to Abdallah, saying, “I wish Issam were here… I wish what happened today was not because we were struck by two rockets.” Despite her injuries, Assi expressed hope that her participation would highlight the need for journalist safety: “This is to send a message that journalists should be protected and be able to work without fearing that they could die at any moment.”
International press agencies—AFP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera—have accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists, stating they were clearly marked and located away from active combat zones. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have urged investigations into the attack as a potential war crime. An RSF probe later concluded that the tank strikes were likely aimed at the press team, making the incident the subject of ongoing calls for accountability.
Assi’s act in carrying the Olympic torch serves as both a personal triumph and a powerful statement on press freedom. She said, “For me, justice comes the day I can stand up again, hold my camera, and get back to work.”
This poignant moment at the Paris Olympic Games underscores a global plea: journalists risk their lives to inform the world, and they must not be targeted. Assi’s journey is a call to action—to ensure that those who document conflict are afforded the protection they deserve.
Reference –
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2553581/%7B%7B
