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| British activist Jacky Sutton found dead in Istanbul airport | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A British woman, believed to be the acting Iraq director for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), has died in an Istanbul airport, the Foreign Office has confirmed. | A British woman, believed to be the acting Iraq director for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), has died in an Istanbul airport, the Foreign Office has confirmed. |
| Former BBC journalist Jacky Sutton, 50, is understood to have been found dead in a toilet at the city’s main airport. The circumstances of her death are as yet unknown. Local media reported that it appeared that Sutton, who is believed to have been travelling to Irbil, northern Iraq had killed herself after missing a flight connection, a claim colleagues said was unlikely. | Former BBC journalist Jacky Sutton, 50, is understood to have been found dead in a toilet at the city’s main airport. The circumstances of her death are as yet unknown. Local media reported that it appeared that Sutton, who is believed to have been travelling to Irbil, northern Iraq had killed herself after missing a flight connection, a claim colleagues said was unlikely. |
| The Foreign Office said it was “providing consular assistance to the family at this time”. | The Foreign Office said it was “providing consular assistance to the family at this time”. |
| It is understood that Sutton, who spoke five languages including basic Arabic, was the acting Iraq head of the London-based IWPR, which supports local journalism in countries affected by conflict and crisis. Its previous Iraq director, Ammar Al Shahbander was killed in a car bomb attack in Baghdad on 2 May and a memorial service was held for him in London last week, according to the IWPR website. | It is understood that Sutton, who spoke five languages including basic Arabic, was the acting Iraq head of the London-based IWPR, which supports local journalism in countries affected by conflict and crisis. Its previous Iraq director, Ammar Al Shahbander was killed in a car bomb attack in Baghdad on 2 May and a memorial service was held for him in London last week, according to the IWPR website. |
| On Twitter friends and colleagues expressed their disbelief about reports in Turkish media that claimed Sutton had become distressed after missing a flight to Iraq, and did not have enough money for a new ticket. | On Twitter friends and colleagues expressed their disbelief about reports in Turkish media that claimed Sutton had become distressed after missing a flight to Iraq, and did not have enough money for a new ticket. |
| Jane Pearce, described in her Twitter profile as the World Food Programme representative and country director for Iraq, said: | Jane Pearce, described in her Twitter profile as the World Food Programme representative and country director for Iraq, said: |
| Mourning my friend & colleague jacky Sutton tonight. Simply don't believe the news reports. | Mourning my friend & colleague jacky Sutton tonight. Simply don't believe the news reports. |
| Rebecca Cooke, who describes herself as a journalist and international development worker on the social media site, called for an international investigation into Sutton’s death. She tweeted: | Rebecca Cooke, who describes herself as a journalist and international development worker on the social media site, called for an international investigation into Sutton’s death. She tweeted: |
| Shocking and sad news about the death of Jacky Sutton in Istanbul. An intl, not just local investigation is needed. | Shocking and sad news about the death of Jacky Sutton in Istanbul. An intl, not just local investigation is needed. |
| Sudipto Mukerjee, a country director with the United Nations Development Programme, wrote: “Very difficult to believe that my colleague @undpiniraq staffer and seasoned traveler @JackySutton committed suicide.” | Sudipto Mukerjee, a country director with the United Nations Development Programme, wrote: “Very difficult to believe that my colleague @undpiniraq staffer and seasoned traveler @JackySutton committed suicide.” |
| Iraqi journalist Mazin Elias, who had worked with Sutton, told MailOnline that it was “impossible” that she killed herself. | Iraqi journalist Mazin Elias, who had worked with Sutton, told MailOnline that it was “impossible” that she killed herself. |
| Elias said she was dedicated to developing freedom of expression in Iraq. “She continued in Iraq – everything was difficult, everything was a challenge, but she still continued,” he said. “But, what I’m sure about, the kind of person that Jacky was, it’s impossible she would have killed herself, impossible. She’s really looking for a better life for everyone. So kill herself? That’s crazy.” | Elias said she was dedicated to developing freedom of expression in Iraq. “She continued in Iraq – everything was difficult, everything was a challenge, but she still continued,” he said. “But, what I’m sure about, the kind of person that Jacky was, it’s impossible she would have killed herself, impossible. She’s really looking for a better life for everyone. So kill herself? That’s crazy.” |
| Sutton was a “big manager” who was unlikely to have missed her flight, he added: “No, that’s impossible … we’re not talking about a girl. She’s a woman, an official woman, she’s a big manager.” | Sutton was a “big manager” who was unlikely to have missed her flight, he added: “No, that’s impossible … we’re not talking about a girl. She’s a woman, an official woman, she’s a big manager.” |
| He alleged that Sutton may have been killed. “I’m really sad and sorry what happened, but if someone tells me ‘she killed herself’, I tell him: ‘No, that’s wrong, someone killed Jacky,’” he said. | He alleged that Sutton may have been killed. “I’m really sad and sorry what happened, but if someone tells me ‘she killed herself’, I tell him: ‘No, that’s wrong, someone killed Jacky,’” he said. |
| The director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, where Sutton was studying for a PhD focused on international development support to female media professionals in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2013, told the BBC the centre was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of one of its brilliant PhD students”. | The director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, where Sutton was studying for a PhD focused on international development support to female media professionals in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2013, told the BBC the centre was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of one of its brilliant PhD students”. |
| Prof Amin Saika said: “She was not only an outstanding research scholar, but a highly valued friend and colleague who made remarkable contributions to the work and activities of the centre.” | Prof Amin Saika said: “She was not only an outstanding research scholar, but a highly valued friend and colleague who made remarkable contributions to the work and activities of the centre.” |
| Sutton had held various positions in humanitarian organisations and the UN as well as working as a producer for the BBC, according to her LinkedIn profile. | Sutton had held various positions in humanitarian organisations and the UN as well as working as a producer for the BBC, according to her LinkedIn profile. |
| It was reported that she had arrived in Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK-1986 at about 10pm local time on Saturday night, and was then due to fly to Irbil at about midnight, but missed her flight. | It was reported that she had arrived in Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK-1986 at about 10pm local time on Saturday night, and was then due to fly to Irbil at about midnight, but missed her flight. |
| Susan Hutchinson, a colleague at the Australian National University, also said she did not believe Sutton took her own life, adding that the IWPR had recently “taken up work countering the anti-women messaging” of Islamic State. | Susan Hutchinson, a colleague at the Australian National University, also said she did not believe Sutton took her own life, adding that the IWPR had recently “taken up work countering the anti-women messaging” of Islamic State. |
| She told the ABC: “I am unconvinced that she would have committed suicide … I am sceptical of the idea. I absolutely think that there needs to be a full investigation. | She told the ABC: “I am unconvinced that she would have committed suicide … I am sceptical of the idea. I absolutely think that there needs to be a full investigation. |
| “I hope the Foreign Office has full access in order to be able to conduct a proper investigation about the circumstances in which Jacky died and I hope that that is done internationally and in a transparent and cooperative way.” | “I hope the Foreign Office has full access in order to be able to conduct a proper investigation about the circumstances in which Jacky died and I hope that that is done internationally and in a transparent and cooperative way.” |
| The International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), an Australian-based agency focused on women’s rights and gender equality in the Asia Pacific region, paid tribute to Sutton on Twitter. It wrote:“Today we grieve for Jacky Sutton, a close and courageous colleague who IWDA worked with through the women, peace and security movement. Jacky Sutton was a fearless advocate for women’s rights. Her passing brings home the risks women human rights defenders face every day. Today, we are angry and grieving for Jacky Sutton. Tomorrow we’ll be seeking answers and calling for urgent action.” | The International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), an Australian-based agency focused on women’s rights and gender equality in the Asia Pacific region, paid tribute to Sutton on Twitter. It wrote:“Today we grieve for Jacky Sutton, a close and courageous colleague who IWDA worked with through the women, peace and security movement. Jacky Sutton was a fearless advocate for women’s rights. Her passing brings home the risks women human rights defenders face every day. Today, we are angry and grieving for Jacky Sutton. Tomorrow we’ll be seeking answers and calling for urgent action.” |
| • In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. | • In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. |