Gilles Jacquier

Jacquier was born in Évian-les-Bains and started his career in 1991 as a reporter images for France 3 Lille.{{cite news|title=Décès de Gilles Jacquier, lauréat du Prix Bayeux|url=http://basse-normandie.france3.fr/info/deces-de-gilles-jacquier-laureat-du-prix-bayeux--71994039.html|accessdate=23 March 2012|newspaper=FR3|date=11 January 2012|author=Marc Sadouni|language=fr}} From 1994 to 1998, he worked for France 3 all around the world in many countries, such as South Africa, Japan, Nepal.

Then, he worked for France 2 from 1999 to 2006 as a reporter to the editor and have dealt with conflicts army in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo. In 2002, Jacquier was shot and wounded near the al Ain refugee camp outside Nablus in the northern West Bank while covering the Second Intifada for France 2.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Beaumont|title=Sharon vows to press on as 13 Israeli soldiers are killed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/apr/10/israel1|work=The Guardian|date=9 April 2002|accessdate=5 February 2012|location=London}} Jacquier, who was wearing a bullet proof vest, was shot in the collarbone and recovered. Speaking of his experiences, Jacquier said in an interview, "I hate war but in war zone I can meet real people... Most of the time people are really themselves, very sincere in front of a camera and it's impossible not be moved by their suffering... Above all, I like filming people as close as possible to the action, with their emotions, but without voyeurism."

Since 2006, Jacquier worked for Envoyé Spécial and reported from all over the world. He worked as a war correspondent for more than twenty years. He shot and submitted most of his own footage. Jacquier reported on location from conflicts in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the wars in the former Yugoslavia, and, more recently, the Arab Spring from 2010 to 2012.

Jacquier had a partner, Caroline Poiron. She is a reporter-photographer working for Paris Match.{{cite news|title=Gilles Jacquier, une mort qui éveille les plus vifs soupçons|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2012/01/23/gilles-jacquier-une-mort-qui-eveille-les-plus-vifs-soupcons_1633385_3218.html|accessdate=23 March 2012|newspaper=Le Monde|date=23 January 2012|language=fr}} They have twin girls: Apoline and Cloée (born 2010).{{cite news|title=Gilles Jacquier: l'adieu au grand reporter|url=http://www.parismatch.com/Actu-Match/Monde/Actu/Gilles-Jacquier-l-adieu-au-grand-reporter-371651/|accessdate=25 March 2012|newspaper=Paris Match|date=19 January 2012|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226192655/http://www.parismatch.com/Actu-Match/Monde/Actu/Gilles-Jacquier-l-adieu-au-grand-reporter-371651/|archive-date=26 February 2012|url-status=dead}}

Gilles Jacquier was the son of Georges Jacquier, who was baker and founder of a ski school at Bernex. His mother died two weeks after the birth of Jacquier's children. His grandfather was the mayor of Bernex for thirty years.

In 2012, Jacquier entered Syria with a visa to cover the Syrian Civil War against Bashar al-Assad. Jacquier and cameraman, Christophe Kenck, were allowed to travel to the city of Homs, a stronghold of the opposition revolt, with the permission of the Syrian government.{{cite news|title=Gilles Jacquier, un journaliste courageux au plus près des gens|url=http://www.francetv.fr/info/un-journaliste-de-france-2-tue-en-syrie_49233.html |work=France Télévisions|date=11 January 2012|accessdate=5 February 2012}} Pro-government nun, Mother Mary Agnes (Agnes Mariam de la Croix), was appointed his fixer.{{cite web | last=Jalabi | first=Raya | title=Critics question Catholic nun's 'alternative story' on Syria civil war | website=the Guardian | date=5 December 2013 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/05/catholic-nun-mother-agnes-syria-civil-war | access-date=7 January 2025}}{{cite web | last=Weiss | first=Michael | title="The regime killed my husband" | website=now.mmedia.me | date=19 October 2018 | url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/the-regime-killed-my-husband | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215061311/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/the-regime-killed-my-husband | archive-date=15 December 2018 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 January 2025}}

On 11 January 2012, Jacquier was interviewing local Syrian businesspeople and, at Mother Agnes' instigation, traveled to a Homs hospital, when a pro-government demonstration organized nearby.{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Mackey|title=French Journalist Killed in Syria as Observer Mission Frays |url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/french-journalist-killed-in-syria-as-observer-mission-frays/ |work=New York Times|date=11 January 2012|accessdate=5 February 2012}} It has been reported that Jacquier was killed in a rocket attack while in the field.{{cite news|first=Melissa|last=Bell|title=Gilles Jacquier, French journalist, killed in Syria |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/gilles-jacquier-french-journalist-killed-in-syria/2012/01/11/gIQADWkuqP_blog.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=11 January 2012|accessdate=5 February 2012}} and that seven other people were also killed in the attack.

His wife alleges that he was killed by the government, namely in a plot carried out by Assef Shawkat, Maher al-Assad, Ali Mamluk, and Michel Samaha. She also says he was killed either by a 22 millimeter gun associated with Syrian secret police or a long knife.{{Cite web |url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/the-regime-killed-my-husband |title="The regime killed my husband" |access-date=2013-06-13 |archive-date=2013-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219082603/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/the-regime-killed-my-husband |url-status=dead }} Other journalists, including Jacques Duplessy, Patrick Vallélian and Sid Ahmed Hammouche, who were present in Homs the day Gilles Jacquier was killed also think the Syrian regime was responsible for this death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/les-zones-d-ombre-autour-de-la-mort-de-gilles-jacquier_1071159.html|title=Les zones d'ombre autour de la mort de Gilles Jacquier|date=2012-01-13|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr|access-date=2019-06-17}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2012/01/23/gilles-jacquier-une-mort-qui-eveille-les-plus-vifs-soupcons_1633385_3218.html|title=Gilles Jacquier, une mort qui éveille les plus vifs soupçons|date=2012-01-23|access-date=2019-06-17|language=fr}} A regime defector also says Gilles Jacquier was deliberately killed in a planned government attack.{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/04/09/marie-colvin-syria-assad/|title=Target: Journalist: How the Assad Regime Tracked and Killed Marie Colvin for Reporting on War Crimes in Syria|last1=Dwyer|first1=Johnny|last2=Gallagher|first2=Ryan|date=2018-04-09|website=The Intercept|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lejdd.fr/International/revelations-sur-limplication-de-la-syrie-dans-le-meurtre-des-journalistes-etrangers-dont-deux-francais-3623189|title=Révélations sur l'implication de la Syrie dans le meurtre de journalistes étrangers, dont deux Français|last=JDD|first=Le|website=lejdd.fr|date=10 April 2018 |language=fr|access-date=2019-06-21}}

Homs is a power base for opponents of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meet.{{cite news|title=VIDEO. Le journaliste de France 2 Gilles Jacquier tué en Syrie|url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/la-revolte-syrienne/20120111.OBS8556/video-le-journaliste-de-france-2-gilles-jacquier-tue-en-syrie.html|accessdate=25 March 2012|newspaper=Le nouvel Observateur|date=11 January 2012|language=fr}}

Two Swiss journalists, Patrick Vallélian of L'Hebdo and Sid Ahmed Hammouche of La Liberté, who were also working in Homs, accused the Syrian government of being behind the attack that killed Jacquier.{{cite news|title=Colleagues blame Syria for death of French TV reporter Gilles Jacquier |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/colleagues-blame-syria-for-death-of-french-tv-reporter-gilles-jacquier/2012/01/22/gIQAvRiSIQ_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531130803/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/colleagues-blame-syria-for-death-of-french-tv-reporter-gilles-jacquier/2012/01/22/gIQAvRiSIQ_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 May 2019|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Washington Post|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=5 February 2012 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2012/02/16/syrie-qui-a-tue-gilles-jacquier_1644441_3232.html|title=Syrie : qui a tué Gilles Jacquier ?|date=2012-02-16|access-date=2019-06-21|language=fr}} Opposition groups also accused the Syrian government of orchestrating the Homs attack. Other opposition sources and Arab League observers blamed anti-Assad rebels.{{cite news|first=Georges|last=Malbrunot |title=Jacquier aurait été victime d'une bavure des insurgés |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/01/20/01003-20120120ARTFIG00667-jacquier-aurait-ete-victime-d-une-bavure-des-insurges.php|work=Le Figaro|date=20 January 2012|accessdate=6 February 2012}} Arab League mission reports from Homs state that Jacquier was killed by mortar shells fired by opposition forces.[http://www.columbia.edu/~hauben/Report_of_Arab_League_Observer_Mission.pdf League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria: Report of the Head of the League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria for the period from 24 December 2011 to 18 January 2012]. Point 44, page 6. This version is denied by his wife and colleagues, who consider the wounds don't match with a death by mortar.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1iYEEES0p-kC|title=Attentat Express|last1=Poiron|first1=Caroline|last2=Hammouche|first2=Sid Ahmed|last3=Vallélian|first3=Patrick|date=2013-05-24|publisher=Le Seuil|isbn=9782021113785|language=fr}} French prosecutors announced a murder investigation into his death, while the French government launched its own independent inquiry.{{cite news|first=Ian |last=Black |title=France opens murder inquiry into journalist's death in Syria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/13/france-journalist-murder-inquiry-syria |work=The Guardian|date=13 January 2012|accessdate=5 February 2012 |location=London}} The investigation by the French Ministry of Defence concluded that Jacquier had been killed in an attack carried out by anti-Assad rebels.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/07/17/01003-20120717ARTFIG00525-jacquier-l-enquete-francaise-pointe-les-rebelles-syriens.php|title=Jacquier: l'enquête française pointe les rebelles syriens|date=17 July 2012|accessdate=18 July 2012|work=Le Figaro|language=fr}} Caroline Poiron, Jacquier's wife, published the book Attentat Express in June 2013 with Vallélian and Hammouche that accuses Syrian government intelligence of a planned killing of her husband.{{cite news|title=Wife-of-killed-journalist-says-Syrian-regime-plotted-killing |newspaper=Al Arabiya |date=June 6, 2013 |accessdate=2013-06-13 |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2013/06/06/Wife-of-killed-journalist-says-Syrian-regime-plotted-killing.html}}{{cite news |title=The regime killed my husband |publisher=NOW |date=June 12, 2013 |accessdate=2013-06-13 |url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/the-regime-killed-my-husband |archive-date=2013-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219082603/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/the-regime-killed-my-husband |url-status=dead }}

The head of information for France Télévisions, Thierry Thuillier, called Jacquier one of the best journalists working for the group. On 23 January 2012, France Télévisions named one of its studios "studio Gilles Jacquier" to honor him.{{cite news|url=http://www.francetv.fr/info/live/message/4f1/d64/b1a/399/163/e29/000/747.html|accessdate=25 March 2012|newspaper=francetvinfo|language=fr |title=Franceinfo - Actualités en temps réel et info en direct }}

Jacquier and his colleague, Bertrand Coq, jointly won the 2003 audiovisual Albert Londres Prize for their work on the France 2 documentary, Naplouse, on the Second Intifada in the Palestinian Territories.{{cite news|url=http://www.prixbayeux.org/index.php?id=289&L|accessdate=25 March 2012|newspaper=Prix Bayeux|language=fr|title=Accueil }}

In 2007, Jacquier won the TV Journalism Ilari Alpi 2007 for "Ukraine, the last frontier", a reportage from Envoyé Spécial.{{cite news|title=L'hommage du JT 20h le 11 janvier 2012|url=http://envoye-special.france2.fr/les-reportages-en-video/lhommage-du-20h00-a-gilles-jacquier-hommage-a-gilles-jacquier-2012-4106.html|accessdate=25 March 2012|newspaper=Envoyé Spécial|language=fr|archive-date=15 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115043656/http://envoye-special.france2.fr/les-reportages-en-video/lhommage-du-20h00-a-gilles-jacquier-hommage-a-gilles-jacquier-2012-4106.html|url-status=dead}} In 2009, he also won the Jean-Louis Calderon price (in the category "video") about his reportage about Afghanistan, broadcast in Envoyé Spécial.{{cite news|title=Award-winning French Journalist Gilles Jacquier Killed in Syria |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/280289/20120111/award-winning-french-journalist-gilles-jacquier-killed.htm|accessdate=25 March 2012|newspaper=International Business Times|date=11 January 2012}}

In June 2011, Jacquier received an award in Italy for best international reporting Ilaria Alpi "Tunisia, the revolution in progress".

In May 2012, Jacquier received the award International Journalism and Human Rights given by the Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival. His widow, Caroline Poiron came to receive the award given in hand by Javier Couso, brother of the camara Jose Couso killed in Iraq in 2004 while he was reporting the war.{{Cite web |url=http://taquillasiete.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/clausura_festival_cine_derechos_humanos/ |title = ¡Todo lo bueno se acaba! « TAQUILLA SIETE |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217015841/http://taquillasiete.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/clausura_festival_cine_derechos_humanos/ |archive-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}

• List of journalists killed during the Syrian Civil War

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Category:1968 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:People from Évian-les-Bains

Category:Assassinated French journalists

Category:French war correspondents

Category:French television journalists

Category:Albert Londres Prize recipients

Category:Civilians killed in the Syrian civil war

Category:War photographers killed while covering the Syrian civil war

Category:People assassinated in the 21st century