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Wael Mikhael

Wael Mikhael, an Egyptian journalist, (or also spelled Mikhail) (or Wael Yunna) (unknown – 2011/10/09),and Mina Daniel, a young Egyptian political activist and blogger were both killed in clashes with Egyptian military. Mikhael was working as a cameraman, for the Coptic Orthodox Christian TV station in Cairo Egypt, was shot in the head while filming what was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration.

Coptic Christians, about 10 percent of Egypt’s 85 million people, say they are repeatedly attacked and have long complained of discrimination in both jobs and politics. In Egypt, Christians have felt vulnerable since Mubarak has been deposed.

On 2011/10/09 thousands, mainly Coptic  Christians, joined a  march from the Shubra district of northern Cairo to the state TV building in Maspero Square where they intended to hold a peaceful sit-in. The sit-in was organized to protest the state’s  TV position of fanning the flames of anti-Christian agitation. The demonstrators were assaulted first by attackers in plain clothes then military armored cars run over people. Thousands joined in the street violence, hurling stones and firing live ammunition into the crowd. What started as a peaceful protest march ended up with 25 dead, 21 of them Coptic Christians, some run over by armored vehicles driven by soldiers supposedly policing the event, others clashing with Muslim extremist.

Danial’s sister said, "Mina was a very kind, righteous person, and he dreamed of Egypt becoming like Europe, where the young people don't have to travel abroad to live their dreams,".

Wael Mikhael, a cameraman for Coptic TV, the official Coptic Orthodox TV station was shot in the head while filming. He was among a small crowd of Coptic demonstrators who were brutally attacked as they demonstrated against the destruction of a church by Islamic radicals in southern Egypt.

Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination in both jobs and politics. Of far more concern, however, was the sense that the army too was involved in the bloodshed too. "Witnesses, victims and doctors said Monday that demonstrators were killed when military-led security forces drove armored vehicles over as many as six people and fired live ammunition into the crowds. Doctors at a Coptic hospital showed journalists 17 bodies, including one with a crushed skull and others with mangled limbs".

Doctors and Interior Ministry officials said bullet wounds accounted for most of the deaths, including that of Mina Daniel, a young political activist a doctor said had been shot in the shoulder and leg. More than 300 others were wounded in four hours of street fights, the Health Ministry said.

Two media rights groups are calling on Egyptian authorities to investigate the death of a cameraman Wael Mikhael. The International Press Institute (IPI) is concerned about the reports of attacks on private television station while filming deadly clashes between protestors speaking out against perceived religious discrimination, and the military who were also supported by a group of protestors.

References

Committee to Protect Journalist: Attacks on press swell in Egypt; journalist dead.

IFEX:

Trust:

Reporters Without Borders:

UNHCR: Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Confirmed: Wael Mikhael.

Aljazeera :Wael Mikhael Live Blog.

Bloomberg Businessweek:

Channel News Asia:

CNS News (part of the Media Research Center):

New York Times:

The Telegraph1:

The Telegraph2:

Planext: "Wael Mikhael":News can Kill:reporters as victims.

[edit] References

Committee to Protect Journalist: Attacks on press swell in Egypt; journalist dead. [1]

IFEX: [2]

Trust: [3]

Reporters Without Borders: [4]

UNHCR: Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Confirmed: Wael Mikhael. [5]

Aljazeera :Wael Mikhael Live Blog. [6]

Bloomberg Businessweek: [7]

Channel News Asia: [8]

CNS News (part of the Media Research Center): [9]

New York Times: [10]

The Telegraph1: [11]

The Telegraph2: [12]

Planext: "Wael Mikhael":News can Kill:reporters as victims. [13]

   ^ http://www.cpj.org/2011/10/attacks-on-press-swell-in-egypt-one-journalist-dea.php
   ^ http://www.ifex.org/egypt/2011/10/12/yunna_killed/
   ^ http://www.trust.org/trustmedia/news/ipi-journalist-killed-in-egypt-clashes
   ^ http://en.rsf.org/egypte-military-abuses-against-media-13-10-2011,41185.html
   ^ http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4f045a8f28.htm
   ^ http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Wael-Mikhael
   ^ http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QBFUMG0.htm
   ^ http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1158280/1/.html
   ^ http://cnsnews.com/news/article/egypt-military-takes-over-inquiry-coptic-unrest
   ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/world/middleeast/coptics-criticize-egypt-government-over-killings.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=coptic%20maspero%20killed%20injured&st=cse
   ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8818715/Egypt-protests-government-faces-accusations-of-deliberately-encouraging-sectarian-hatred.html
   ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/colin-freeman/8829504/Our-brother-died-for-a-better-Egypt-Coptic-Christian-sisters-make-grief-stricken-plea-for-their-country.html
   ^ http://www.planetnext.net/tag/wael-mikhael/