Anti-Islamic State filmmaker gunned down in TurkeyDecember 28, 2015 - 16:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An anti-Islamic State activist and filmmaker has been shot dead by assassins in broad daylight in Turkey, BBC News reports. Naji Jerf, 38, was shot with a silenced pistol in downtown Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, Turkish media reported. Jerf was the film director for Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), a group of journalists who risk their lives daily to report on IS abuses. It is the second murder of a member of the group in as many weeks, after Ahmad Mohammed al-Mousa was killed in Syria. Jerf was a vocal critic of the so-called Islamic State. He directed two recent documentaries about the group - one about the killing of Syrian activists in Aleppo, the other about the work of RBSS. He was also a father of two young daughters. A friend of Jerf said the filmmaker's family had been granted asylum in France and was due to travel to Paris this week. As well as his work with RBSS, Jerf was editor-in-chief of Hentah, a Syrian magazine that reports on the "daily lives of Syrian citizens," according to the publication's website. No one has claimed responsibility for the murder, but Islamic State supporters in Turkey are the most likely suspects. This is not the first time IS has murdered a member of RBSS on Turkish soil. In October, Ibrahim Abdul Qader was beheaded in the southern city of Urfa. Another journalist, Fares Hamadi, was killed in the same attack. IS subsequently published a video warning: "You will not be safe from the knife of the Islamic State. Our hand will reach you wherever you are." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |