Ali Othman

Ali Mahmoud Othman
Born	1978 Syria
Nationality	Syrian
Occupation	journalist

Ali Mahmoud Othman (Arabic:علي محمود عثمان, born 1978) is a Syrian citizen journalist and activist from Homs. He is nicknamed the "Eyes of Baba Amr" and "Jeddo" (Grandfather).

Othman was originally a vegetable seller, but turned to journalism in the Syrian uprising. He became the head of a media centre in Homs, Baba Amro News, which provided footage and content to satellite TV channels, news outlets and foreign journalists working in Syria, including Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, CNN, BBC, Sky News and TRT.

He gained prominence when he highlighted the shelling of Homs. The centre was in a privileged location because it had internet access and a generator to provide electricity. It is claimed that Othman's footage was the first to be made available.

Paul Conroy said Othman "was one of the activists who just made things happen at the media centre. He would take journalists to the front line or to field hospitals, or anywhere where they would be able to get a good camera shot."

The Baba Amro News office was shelled twice; both times with Othman present. He filmed the first shelling and helped carry the injured to safety.

In the second shelling more than ten rockets hit the office. Foreign journalists Marie Colvin and Rémi Ochlik were killed while they were attempting to escape. Othman was instrumental in the evacuation of the three remaining journalists from Homs, including Paul Conroy who was seriously injured. However Othman refused to leave the city himself after the Syrian army regained control.

A Libération journalist said the Syrian Army were fully aware the media centre was broadcasting evidence of crimes against humanity, and they were planning to deliberately shell the office. Doing so would mean there would be "no more information coming out of Homs".

...
Wikipedia