"On April 3, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 16 people had been killed in the Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria. This death toll is composed of diplomats, military commanders, and others. To write and publish that only two Iranian generals were killed is inaccurate and grossly undermines the scale of Israel’s military strike and its damage."
April 15, 2024
To:
Andrea Baillie, Editor-in-Chief, The Canadian Press
Tim Cook, Managing Editor, The Canadian Press
Kayla Goodfield, Assistant Managing Editor, The Canadian Press
Dear Andrea Baillie, Tim Cook, and Kayla Goodfield,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding one of The Canadian Press’ recent articles titled, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemns Iran’s attacks on Israel,” published on April 13.
One sentence in the article reads:
Conflict between Israel and Iran heightened after an airstrike blamed on Israel destroyed Iran’s consulate in Syria and killed two Iranian generals. Tehran vowed revenge.
To write that the airstrike was “blamed on Israel” without providing any of the evidence pointing to Israel’s responsibility for the attack is misleading. It unfairly introduces skepticism into the minds of readers when there is virtually no reason to doubt the claim. On April 1, the New York Times cited four unnamed Israeli officials who acknowledged that Israel had carried out the attack. Israel has also not denied the attack. Please adjust your language and specify that Israel has claimed responsibility for the military attack.
The sentence also reads that the attack killed “two Iranian generals.” On April 3, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 16 people had been killed in the Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria. This death toll is composed of diplomats, military commanders, and others. To write and publish that only two Iranian generals were killed is inaccurate and grossly undermines the scale of Israel’s military strike and its damage.
Lastly, you write that Tehran “vowed revenge.” Instead of paraphrasing Iran’s statements regarding retaliation, perhaps it would be more appropriate to quote it directly. Iran’s U.N. mission described the strike as a “flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law” and stated that the “Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its legitimate and inherent right…to take a decisive response.” To write that Tehran “vows revenge” as opposed to the more neutral, legalistic language typically used by The Canadian Press to describe Israel’s military decisions is unfair and represents a double standard.
I hope that The Canadian Press will make these edits promptly, as it is a question of maintaining minimum journalistic standards.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East