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ShareDOHA: The Qatar-based satellite television network Al-Jazeera said on Thursday it will unveil a "Wall of Freedom" in honour of journalists worldwide who have been killed while doing their jobs.
The 16.5 metre memorial, to be unveiled on the channel's 10th anniversary on November 1 at its Doha headquarters, is "an ongoing recognition of the dangerous work that many journalists are required to do", Al-Jazeera said in a statement.
More than 630 names are etched on the memorial, which was designed by Iraqi-Canadian artist Mahmud Al-Obaidi.
"Journalists today are placed in hazardous situations either as a consequence of covering wars or giving voice to opinions that are condemned by political regimes," the channel said, adding that many of those honoured by the memorial were victims of "political assassination for their views".
It added that many cases of those killed are still open -- "with either little or no investigation into the circumstances and reasons for their deaths".
Wadah Khanfar, Al-Jazeera's director general, said the station wanted to recognise "the courage and valor shown by journalists and their crews across the world, those who have sacrificed their lives".
"Reporting the news has become extremely unsafe in many parts of the world, and more needs to be done to assure protection for journalists and for the freedom of expression," he added.
Khanfar called the memorial a reminder of "the heavy cost of telling the truth".
"We wanted to honour those who have sacrificed their lives for their profession, and we hope that one day we can see an end to the killing," he said.
