Libyan Reporters In Benghazi, Tripoli Protest Killing Of Acclaimed Photojournalist Khalifa

Libyan journalists have organized two rallies in Tripoli and Benghazi to protest the killing of Mohamed Ben Khalifa, an acclaimed photographer who worked with RT's video agency Ruptly and the Associated Press news agency

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st January, 2019) Libyan journalists have organized two rallies in Tripoli and Benghazi to protest the killing of Mohamed Ben Khalifa, an acclaimed photographer who worked with RT's video agency Ruptly and the Associated Press news agency.

Ben Khalifa was killed on Saturday during shelling in Tripoli while covering violent clashes between local armed groups that erupted in the Libyan capital last week. According to the Libyan Health Ministry, at least 13 people were killed and 52 others were injured in these clashes. Ben Khalifa, 35, is survived by his wife and six-month-old daughter.

Journalists who gathered in Tripoli on Sunday had their mouths symbolically taped shut with white pieces of paper and held photos of Ben Khalifa as well as placards with slogans written in Arabic and English reading "Journalism is not a crime," "Stand for press freedom," "Libya without media," and others.

"He died while he was defending and demanding our rights as journalists," Tariq Houni, a fellow reporter, said in an interview released by Rutply.

At Sunday's Benghazi protest, journalists made a joint statement saying that they "condemn the latest violations committed by armed militias who try to intimidate and repress journalists.

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Ben Khalifa had regularly contributed to Ruptly and other international news agencies as a freelancer.

"Mohamed was reliable, accurate and a humble person to work with," one of Ben Khalifa's colleagues at Ruptly said, adding that "his professionalism as well as his good character would be missed."

Ben Khalifa was among the most prominent photographers and cameramen in Tripoli. In recent years, the journalist had collaborated with the Associated Press and had been working with RT's Ruptly video agency since 2016.

Libya has been torn apart by conflict since its long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, operates in the country's west and is headquartered in Tripoli.