Teenage Photographer Molhem Barakat Died in Aleppo While Covering Syrian Civil War for Reuters; Question Arise (SEE Spine-Chilling Photos)
A teenage photographer who shot some shocking and chilling photos of war struck Syria was found dead on Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. Molhem Barakat was a freelance photographer working for Reuters, died while covering the war-torn areas in Aleppo in Syria braving the ruthless civil war between rebels and Government forces.
Molhem Barakat was just 17 whose spine-chilling photographs of Syria were circulated widely. He died amidst the chaos of the battle while taking the photos of the war over the Kindi hospital in Aleppo. According to the Reuters, the hospital is now turned into barracks by government forces.
The young photographer gained prominence due to his photos of Syria showing lives of Syrian people at the time of the war that started in 2011. Amidst the chaos generated by the rebellion, the 17 year-old photographer took some haunting images displaying the ravaged state of the country. His photos not only tell the stories of the civil war presently taking place in the city of Aleppo, but also exhibit the ordinary lives of people. His pictures of Aleppo have been published in numerous publications around the world ever since he started to work with Reuters in May. Click HERE to see some of Molhem Barakat's latest photos as listed by Buzzfeed.com. Click HERE to view the gallery created by The Telegraph with photos of civil war in Syria.
Teenager photographer Molhem Barakat's death in warzone area while freelancing for Reuters has aroused questions for the agency and has brought it under scrutiny. This is because his age has been reported as 18 by some media outlets and 17 by others, questioning his eligibility to work in a war-torn area without any formal training.
One of the journalists Cory Pein invoked some questions regarding Molhem Barakat's work as a photographer with one of the largest media agencies. He wrote on his blog "questions about how it was that an inexperienced teenager came to be working for a major news organization in a war zone."
Also, according to his post, BBC's journalist Stuart Hughes, has sent his queries regarding the same. "BBC journalist Stuart Hughes, who I know is personally concerned with the working conditions of journalists in war zones, sent some questions to Reuters regarding their procedures for verifying the ages of freelancers in hostile environments, and other essential background, such as what training Molhem might received," wrote Corey Pein.
Molhem Barakat's death is being widely scrutinized, but social media is filled with praises for the inspiring work that the teenager photographer did while braving the extreme and violent circumstances in Syria. Social media is abuzz with tributes to Molhem Barakat and questions for Reuters. Some of the tweets on the social media and microblogging Web site Twitter read:
Thomas Gibbons-Neff an Executive editor @The Hoyal/ columnist tweeted: "He died for the millions he would never meet. Rest easy, Molhem Barakat a 17-year-old photographer killed in #Syria pic.twitter.com/FOw25T9BiI"
A Mid-east based journalist Erin Cunningham tweeted on twitter: "More Questions For @Reuters About The Death Of Molhem Barakat, Teenage War Photographer http://goo.gl/iqonn6 "
Journalist and filmmaker Inigo Gilmore tweeted on twitter: "Molhem Barakat, a young Syrian photographer, killed today in Aleppo. He was working as a stringer for Reuters. He was 17. There are No words"
Inigo Gilmore's second tweet on twitter following Molhem Barakat's death read: "Molhem Barakat, a promising photographer, killed 2day in Aleppo - just 17. While he's mourned don't forget 40 journalists missing in Syria"
As appeared in Daily Mail report, the deceased teenage photographer Molhem Barakat who freelanced for Reuters was from Istanbul and studied at a school in the city. Then he joined freelance photography with Reuter in warzone area of Aleppo in Syria.