The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today strongly condemned the attack against Atayi Ayi a photo reporter with  Forum de la Semaine  in Togo.

We condemn this attack and call on authorities to deal ruthlessly with the authors of this unjustified action , said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Office Director.

According to reliable information, Atayi Ayi has been attacked in the course of his work in Lomé, the capital city, near a hotel where he was having pictures of a conflict between members of a certain community and the hotel owners.

He has been successively attacked by two groups of persons while he was taking photographs of the conflict. The attacks caused him serious injuries at his face, hemorrhages and contusions at several parts of his body. His camera has been violently snatched by his assailants.

The IFJ notices with regret the considerably deteriorating conditions of exercise of journalism in Togo. We call on authorities to protect journalists against free attacks and to promote a secure environment for journalists so as to prevent them from being easy target of press freedom destroyers , added Baglo.