Calls on Palestinian factions to end pressure on journalists
Palestine, Politics, 9/14/2007

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) yesterday warned warring factions in Palestine to stop using the media and pressure on journalists in their political struggle, saying that both Hamas and Fatah factions in Palestine are putting unacceptable pressure on journalists following a series of recent incidents in which journalists have been harassed and subject to intimidation.

"The political problems of Palestine will not be solved by the violent intimidation of journalistic freedom," said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "All sides in Palestine must allow journalists to report freely and a free press to function."

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) on Wednesday described an arrest and beating of journalist Faeq Jarada by Hamas' Executive Force paramilitaries. An employee of the Palestinian public television station PBC, Jarada was arrested at his home in Tal Al-Hawa, in the southwest of the Gaza Strip, on 10 September 2007 and was released the following day from Gaza City prison.

"Hamas has become a real press freedom predator," the organization said. "This latest violation of journalists' rights is all the more unacceptable as senior Hamas officials were party to it. We call on Ismail Haniyeh to put an immediate stop to these arbitrary arrests and acts of intimidation against journalists."

When Executive Force paramilitaries first went to Jarada's home on 10 September, they abandoned their attempt to arrest him because of the protests of about 20 journalists, who immediately contacted the office of former Prime Minister Haniyeh. Jarada is a member of the Union of Palestinian Filmmakers.

Hamas spokesman Tahar Al-Nunu, Executive Force spokesman Islam Shehwan and interior ministry spokesman Ihab Al-Ghossayn, who are all members of the new Government Committee for the Media, then went to Jarada's home with the aim of escorting him to a detention center for questioning. They, too, gave up the attempt.

Finally, a group of Executive Force members went back and arrested him two hours later, taking him to Gaza City's main prison. They also searched his home, seizing his computer, a camera and several videotapes.

Jarada told RSF he was beaten before being questioned about his work. He was finally released late in the afternoon of 11 September and was immediately taken to Al-Quds hospital because he was badly bruised and unable to walk.

Previous Stories:
  Fatah-affiliated radio station attacked   (2/4/2007)
  Palestinian president will not resign   (2/28/2006)
  Hamas to form next Palestinian government   (2/4/2006)

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