Naji al-Jerf

Personal life Al Jerf was born in Salamiyah, Syria, and was from an Ismaeli background, a branch of Shia Islam. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Tishreen University. While in Homs, his wife, gave birth to their first daughter, whom they named Emesa, after Hom's ancient Greek title.

He was known by many as 'Uncle' because of his mentoring and training of many young people in the revolutionary movement.

He is buried at Yeşilkent cemetery.

Career Al Jerf was a journalist, filmmaker, and editor. He worked as an Al Jazeera documentary producer in Damascus until the beginning of the civil war. He also founded Hentawi magazine, a version geared towards 9-to-15 year-old readers. Before Al Jerf was shot, he had been receiving death threats from ISIS over fake Facebook accounts. His death happened during the day around 3:20 p.m. when he was at a restaurant to order some food for his daughters. While he was waiting outside a restaurant, in downtown Gaziantep, a white car drove by and a masked man with a silencer shot Al Jerf. He was taken to the Aralık State Hospital where he later died.

Daesh (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the murder that very night. This organization also claimed responsibility for the murder of two of his colleagues, beheaded in early November 2015 in Şanliurfa, Turkey.

Trial Yusuf Hamed Eshverihi, a member of ISIL was convicted on 9 June 2017 after three other suspects were acquitted based on a lack of evidence.

Impact As stated above Naji Al Jerf was one of the co-founders of Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently and a spokesperson for the organization. He helped fund and deliver aid to the intentionally displaced. He also trained others with making documentaries.

Reactions Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, said, "I trust that the investigation of the murder of Naji Jerf will bear fruit and that those responsible for this crime will face trial."

A spokesperson for the Committee to Protect Journalists said, "We call on Turkish authorities to bring the killers of Naji Jerf to justice swiftly and transparently, and to step up measures to protect all Syrian journalists on Turkish soil."

After his death, people started sharing the documentary footage about ISIS that he had original posted on YouTube. The footage spread through other social media along with statements reacting to his work.

Al Jerf was liked by many Syrian opposition activists. Hasan, Al Jerf's friend, said "I do expect and hope that the Turkish authorities will find the killer. If not, we won't forget him and this case will not be forgotten." His death has sent chills through the Syrian community of activists living in Gaziantep.

Awards The film that the Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently group made and directed by Naji has won a committee to protect journalists’ international press freedom award in November. The documentary was posted on YouTube, where it had over 75,000 views as of 31 December 2015.