‘A Terrible Tragedy’: Syracuse Film Student Killed in Syria While Documenting Violence
- Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:10pm by
Jason Howerton
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Syrian activist and Syracuse University graduate film student Bassel Shahade (source: Facebook)
A graduate film student at Syracuse University was killed in Syria while filming a documentary about the ongoing violence ravaging his homeland, The Associated Press reports.
Bassel Shahade, 28, a well-known Syrian activist, died Monday in the city of Homs, Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor told The AP. She did not have details of his death.
“This is a terrible tragedy for Bassel’s family and friends in Syria and for all his fellow students, faculty and friends here in Syracuse who knew him,” she wrote in a message to students. “His death is also a tragedy for the Syrian people, who have suffered many months of tragic violence as they seek greater freedom for their nation.”
Amer Mater, a friend of Shahade, told The AP that the student filmmaker was in Houla filming the aftermath of the massacre that claimed the lives of 108 people, including 32 children, last week.
The United Nations estimates that around 9,000 people, mostly civilians, have been slaughtered since the uprisings against President Bashar Assad began in Syria about 14 months ago.
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network taken Saturday, May 26, 2012, purports to show shrouded dead bodies following a Syrian government assault on Houla, Syria. The U.N. says 32 children under 10 were among the dead. (AP Photo)
In addition to filming his own documentary, Shahade was also training other videographers to document the violence in Syria, Mater said.
Friends and supporters of Shahade took to Facebook to mourn Shahade and a group has already been created in his name titled, “Bassel Shahade Singing For Freedom.” The page had 1,221 likes as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
“Thousands of Syrians have lost their lives and this young man sought to bring this to the attention of the world. Are you listening World? We failed to hear him shout in life, perhaps we can hear his whisper in death. We must help the people of Syria,” Brad O’Neill posted on the Facebook page.
Deborah Jordan posted, “Bassel Shahade was an incredibly brave filmmaker. My heart goes out to his family and friends, and to the besieged Syrian people he was helping when he was killed.”
Prior to his death, Shahade appeared via a live audio feed on the show Democracy Now! in December. With guards possibly right outside the door, he spoke in a quiet voice while hiding in an apartment and explained to the hosts that the situation in Syria is deadly. Shahade’s segment starts at around 14:50:
“Thousands of detainees are still in the prisons,” Shahade said. “Among them are tens of my friends. They are not terrorists. They are filmmakers, journalists, doctors, lawyers. They are very high intellectual people and activists.”
Shahade said the country needed protection in the form of observers and journalists to document the atrocities being carried out by Assad’s security forces.
“This is the protection we need, ” he said.
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tommysoap
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:01am“as they seek greater freedom for their nation.”…OH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Report Post »Athinkerinaseaoflibs
Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:46amWhen I was younger a guy came to work and his brand new car looked as though it was destroyed. Every part of the car had be scratched or dented. The windshield was shattered and one side window was smashed out. I asked the guy if he had an accident, he informed me that it was not an accident. He went on to explain, “if you drink a 12 pack of beer and then get in your car and roll it over in the ditch, you should not consider that an accident but the result of a plan”.
Report Post »If you go to a Middle Eastern country and try to gather information that will make the leadership look bad you will end up dead. This guy was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Where he went was the wrong place at any time.
We need to develop our own energy sources including oil, gas and nuclear so we can get completely out of the Middle East. On the way out let all of the despots in those countries we will only return if you bother Israel and then we will only send our B-52s to carpet bomb you back another century in the Stone Age.
BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:35pmProphecies concerning Syria and the Capital city of Damascus.
Jeremiah 49:24-27
Report Post »Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26. Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts.
27. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
“Isaiah 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
pinchanze
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:24pmHe should of stayed in the “Good ole’ U.S.A.” What is the name of the Visa that Foreign Students get to live here?
Report Post »stuharnden
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:05pmAre you listening World? We failed to hear him shout in life, perhaps we can hear his whisper in death. We must help the people of Syria,” Brad O’Neill posted on the Facebook page. Brad could it also could go for Planned Parenthood ?
O’Lord, O’Bummer, Obama
Report Post »stuharnden
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:59pmMy father always said “do not put your hand on a hot stove you will get burned”
O’Lord, O’Bummer, Obama
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:50pmNo one cares.
The guy was a muslim jihadi.
“…Bassel Shahade, 28, a well-known Syrian activist,…”
Should read;
“…Bassel Shahade, 28, a well-known muslim jihadi….”
And apparently he was engaging in Jihad in America, too.
“…Prior to his death, Shahade appeared via a live audio feed on the show Democracy Now! in December….”
The death of a muslim engaged in Jihad is not a sad thing.
I would suggest that his family be rounded up and deported to Syria where they can no longer threaten the Constitution and my Bill of Rights.
Report Post »frogg
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:45pmThe Boy should have stayed at home. Muslims will be fighting until they kill each other off. There is no news there except how many died each day.
Report Post »kinggrain
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:01pmYes, I agree. I know that this young man felt it was his duty to get involved in the terrible events taking place in his homeland, but sometimes we have to let the professionals calm the situation…if possible. I personally don’t have to see graphic evidence of this horrific situation. The numbers of those killed speak volumes.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:16pmIt’s always sad when an innocent loses his/her life, especially if that person was trying to help. Sometimes we need crazy brave young people to get in the midst of the chaos to show/tell us what is really happening. I’m sure he knew the danger he was in. I would not judge him wrong by saying he should not have done this. Only he and his family knows what this meant to him.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:30pmJumping into the middle of a civil war to film it may not be the best idea he ever had.
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