Kuala lumpur: A large number of Malaysian journalists and political activists staged a demonstration at 'Dataran Merdeka' (the Independence Square) in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday evening in solidarity with Anas Al-Sharif and other martyrs of journalism in Palestine. Al-Sharif - a reporter of Al-Jazeera news network, was killed alongside several other colleagues in a targeted Israeli attack near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City last week.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the protest was organized by several direct action organizations under the slogan of "Southeast Asia united for Palestine," and gathered press people, advocates for boycotting Israel, political activists, and sympathizers with the Palestinian people. Kamal Arif, one of the lobbyists, noted the deep connection despite the geographic distance between Malaysia and Palestine. He expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, particularly those in the Gaza Strip, who are experiencing severe challenges.
Arif emphasized the importance of voicing support for the Palestinian martyrs of the press, asserting that the efforts of individuals like Anas Al-Sharif ensure that the voices of Palestinians resonate worldwide. He declared a commitment to continue advocating against the ongoing situation in Palestine.
Mohammad Hakim, an activist present at the demonstration, highlighted the aim of the event to honor the "heroes of journalism" who have risked their lives to report the truth. He stressed that without the dedication of these journalists, global awareness of the Palestinian people's plight would be limited. Hakim called for the international community to respond to the alarming number of journalists killed in Palestine over the past year and a half.
A poignant moment came when a female organizer read the last will of Anas Al-Sharif, in which he vowed to continue reporting on the situation in Gaza regardless of the personal cost. The demonstrators held banners in both Malay and English, calling for an end to the violence in Gaza, protection of journalists, liberation of Palestine, and the fall of Israel.