Ramallah, 3/10/2014 – The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) monitored a limited number of violations against journalists in September 2014 compared to the months of July and August which witnessed the bloodiest and most severe violations in the history of the Palestinian media. Those were committed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during their attack on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the death of 17 journalists and media workers as well as multiple injuries and the destruction of several media outlets premises.

In September, MADA observed several violations against journalists and freedom of expression committed by both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. All of them took place in the West Bank. The victims were either journalists and media workers or citizens expressing their views through social media.

 

Israeli Violations:

The Israeli occupation forces continued their attacks against Palestinian journalists. The most severe one happened in Hebron on 23/9 when an AFP photographer was shot at with a bullet after he finished covering the IOF killing of two Palestinians. Others serious abuses were suffered by Ro’ya TV correspondent Ahmad Barahme (aged 24) and Zeinat Al-Quds network Riyad Qadriyye who were beaten, detained and investigated for around five hours while going for a journalistic tour in Jerusalem. On 24/9 the IOF also assaulted Al-Falastiniyya TV cameraman and Panet agency journalist Ahmad Jalajel (aged 35) as well as Quds Net agency photojournalist Diala Jwehan, trying to prevent them from covering the measures taken by the IOF in Jerusalem during the celebrations of a Jewish feast.  

 

Palestinian Violations:

The Palestinian intelligence services in Bethlehem arrested the political activist and Asda’ correspondent Qutaiba Saleh Qasem (aged 26), detained him for 24 hours and interrogated him about posts he had published on Facebook on 7/9. On 19/9 the intelligence services and national security officers arrested “Filisteen Al-Yaum” TV producer Mujahed Mohammad Al-Sa’di (aged 26) in Jenin, detained him for 36 hours and questioned him about his posts on Facebook. In Tulkarem they detained the freelance journalist Yazeed Khader (aged 50) for 24 hours and interrogated him. The preventive security forces also arrested Birzeit University journalism student and head of the media club Bara’ Al-Qadi (aged 22) for nine days for his writings on Facebook. Other Palestinian citizens were arrested for the same motive.

 

Recommendations:

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns all these violations committed against journalists, media workers and activists.

MADA demands the international community to put pressure on the Israeli government to end its attacks against journalists and guarantee their right to cover events and express their opinion freely.

MADA repeats its demand that the Palestinian security forces stop their prosecution of journalists and social media activists for expressing their views and reminds that the Palestinian Basic Law guarantees freedom of expression. In addition, the Palestinian law gives anyone the right to litigate in cases of defamation and there is therefore no justification for detentions. The trend worldwide is towards either not implementing existing provisions allowing arrest and prosecution of journalists and those who express publicly their opinion, or amending national legislations to prohibit explicitly such measures. On the other hand, MADA urges journalists and activists to improve the wording of their criticism and avoid using insults, libel and blasphemous language.

 

MADA also expresses its concern and opposition to the expulsion of Israeli newspaper Haaretz correspondent Amira Hass from Birzeit University. Hass is well known for her professional coverage of the Israeli violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people. MADA condemns as well the repression of students protesting against the visit of diplomats from the US General Consulate by Al-Najah University security staff. Several students were injured in the process, including Mohammad Abu Awwad whose hand was broken. Freedoms should be guaranteed for all inside Palestinian universities.

 

 

Details of Violations

6/9 The Palestinian preventive intelligence service summoned the freelance journalist Ibrahim Sa’eed (aged 24) for participating in demonstrations in Ramallah.

Sa’eed reported to MADA: “On 6/9 I was asked to go on the following day to the preventive security headquarters with my brother and another 4 persons from Birzeit, a town north of Ramallah. None of us went but the preventive security men arrested Ayman Abu Aram (aged 26) and detained him for 30 hours before releasing him. Aram is a photographer and he works in a trade company. As for me, they called me many times but I did not answer since I recognized their phone numbers.” (He told MADA that since 2/10 the security forces have not called him again).

He added: “According to what Aram said, they interrogated him about his participation in the solidarity demonstrations with Gaza and about the photographs he took during a festival of solidarity with Hamas held on Saturday 31/8/2014 in Ramallah.”

 

7/9 The Palestinian preventive security forces arrested Aslan Fa’eq Al-Taweel (aged 38) for his writings on Facebook.

Al-Taweel, from the West Bank village of Far’ata, near Qalqilya, was accused of stirring sedition and sectarianism in the nation. He reported to MADA: “On Sunday 7/9/2014, I received a summons to go to the preventive security headquarters in Qalqilya and I went there on Monday. At the beginning their legal consultant interrogated me for one hour about old subjects such as my political affiliation and my participation in Hamas events. At the end of the investigation he accused me of criticizing the president and the Palestinian Authority on Facebook, in addition to stirring sedition and sectarianism in the nation.”

He added: “The public prosecution extended my arrest for another 48 hours. Two days later the court extended my arrest again for another 15 days. Four days later, I appeared in the court and the judge asked me whether I was guilty or not. I answered no, which led to my detention until 11/11. The judge refused to release me despite the request made by my lawyer Ghassan Al-Barghouthi.”

He said further: “I was allowed to call my wife and asked for her brother’s help. He asked for VIP assistance and I was released on a 1,000 JD (about 1300 $) bail with 100 $ of it to be paid with a pledge not to stir sedition and sectarianism in the nation. Another court session is to be held on 11/11/2014.”

 

7/9 The Intelligence service in Bethlehem arrested the political activist and Asda news website correspondent Qutaiba Saleh Qasem (aged 26).

Qasem reported to MADA: “They arrested me at home and asked me to head to their headquarters for five minutes. Since the moment they arrested me on Sunday evening until Monday morning they interrogated me continuously, trying to find links between Hamas and I. They also asked me about my publications on Facebook and the fact that many tags on my account were posted by my friends saying that I had been arrested by the security forces.”

He added: “On Monday afternoon, their legal consultant threatened of charging me and imprisoning me. I was released but was asked to go back to their headquarters on the next day. This was repeated on Tuesday and Thursday, where I went at 10:30 am until 2:30 pm without any interrogation. I was released and told to come back on 21/9. I went back on that date and I stayed at their headquarters for two hours without any interrogation. Later on I was given my ID back and I left.”

 

12/9  Palmedia cameraman Amer Abdeen was accidently hit by a stone thrown by a Palestinian youth while he was covering clashes in Hebron.

He reported to MADA: “After the funeral of Raed Al-Ja’bari, a detainee who died in Israeli prison, on 12/9, clashes started between the IOF and the Palestinian youths in the Bab Al-Zawye neighborhood of Hebron. While the Palestinians were throwing stones at the IOF, one of them hit my left leg underneath my knee. The injury was minor, I had treatment at the ambulance and was told to go to the hospital if needed.”

 

13/9 The Palestinian preventive security forces arrested Ra’ed Rafeeq Qubbaj (aged 42) for his writing on Facebook.

Qubbaj, who is a pharmacist, reported to MADA: “On 13/9 at around 7:00 pm, while I was in my pharmacy, a man came in and presented himself as a member of the preventive security forces. He said that he had an official order to arrest me but didn’t show any papers. I refused to leave the pharmacy and waited until my wife came and stayed in the pharmacy. I left with him after half an hour to their headquarters in Al-Balou’ neighborhood and then after 15 minutes they led me to their other headquarters in Beitounia neighborhood (near Ramallah). There, they took my personal belongings and put me in cell for half an hour. Later, two officers accused me of defaming and slandering VIPs in posts I had written on Facebook during the Israeli attack on Gaza. The investigator had a copy of my writings printed and documented in a file.

 “They interrogated me about all the posts, accusing me of talking about President Mahmoud Abbas, but I clarified whom I meant in each post. They also asked me about my political affiliation, and if I had ever been arrested by the Israelis.”

Qubbaj added: “On Sunday at 8:00 am I was presented to the public prosecution, and my detention was extended for 48 hours. On Tuesday, I appeared in court in the presence of the judge. He extended my detention hurriedly for 15 days. On the next day, I appeared in court again, and as a result of the discussion between the judge and the lawyer, the court approved my release on bail for 1,000 JD (about 1300 $), specifying that the bail must be paid if I did not attend the next court hearing on 23/11/2014. I was released on Wednesday 17/9/2914.”

 

14/9 The preventive security services arrested Birzeit journalism student and media club head Bara’ Mahmoud Al-Qadi (aged 22).

Al-Qadi was accused of “slandering the general authority” in his journalistic writings for some news agencies.

His sister Tasneem told MADA: “The preventive security forces arrested my bother on Sunday 14/9, and his detention was extended for 24 hours. On Tuesday 16/9, the general prosecution extended his detention for 15 days and the court approved the decision.”

She added: “Bara’ was accused of “slandering the general authority” after he published posts on Facebook and journalistic materials on online news websites such as Al-Quds network and Wattan agency. That means these accusations were made on the background of the expression of his political views.”

His lawyer Muhannad Karaja who works at Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights and followed Bara’s case with his colleague the lawyer Anas Al-Barghouthi, reported to MADA: “We presented a request for Bara’s release on Thursday 18/9 but it was rejected. A second request was made for his release on bail and we are still awaiting the answer.”

Karaja said that he had been banned from visiting Bara’ until Sunday morning 21/9.

On 24/9 Karaja reported to MADA that Bara’ was released on Tuesday after the judge had approved his release on a 5,000 JD bail, which should be paid if he did not attend the next court session.

Bara’ reported to MADA that he was accused of slandering the general authority after he cursed a Palestinian police officer on Facebook, calling him “stupid”. This followed a discussion between Bara’ and the officer held after a visit of an Israeli group to the Palestinian territories early in 2014. Journalistic pieces he wrote on online news agency such as Al-Quds network agency and Wattan agency were also incriminated, including an article entitled “Adel and Imad Awadallah, an issue we are afraid to talk about”. Bara’ said further: “The investigation was about my political affiliation at the university and about my relation with my cousin who has been deported to Gaza. I was also questioned about my work as head of the university media club, how I got to the post and who supports me financially. They also asked me about demonstrations I participated in. Those events are usually held by national forces since I do not belong to any political party and do not participate in their rallies.” Bara’ added: “During my detention I was in a small dirty cell, they treated me well and I was not beaten.”

 

19/9 The Palestinian intelligence service and national security officers raided the house of “Filisteen Al-Yaum” TV producer Mujahed Mohammad Al-Sa’di (aged 26) in Jenin and later arrested him while he was at his brothers’ house.

Al-Sa’di reported to MADA: “The intelligence services raided my family house on Friday 19/9 at 12 am; I was not at home. They headed to my brothers’ house, broke the door and threw stun grenades for 10 minutes before I opened the door. They told me that they wanted to search the house and I asked for an official authorization but one of the officers pushed me and I fell to the ground. It was clear that the search warrant in their possession was for my house and not for that of my brothers.”

He added: “They brutally pulled me into their car, cuffed my hands and led me to the intelligence services headquarter in Jenin. They accused me of cursing Azzam Al-Ahmad (a Fatah leader) whom I interviewed on Thursday 18/9 about the massacres committed against the Palestinian people and the procedures used by the authority while the assaults were still ongoing.”

Al-Sa’di specified: “They arrested me because I had put the photo of an Israeli journalist who was present while I was making the interview (since he was also making an interview of Al-Ahmad on the same subject) and because I posted the Israeli journalist’s photo on my Facebook page with his article and the word 'Betrayal.’”

They requested to bring me to the general prosecution on charge of distrust, and also asked me to drop my betrayal accusation against Al-Ahmad. An hour later, I was surprised when they asked me to write my testimony by myself and to sign it in order to be released. I refused and I signed a testimony written by them. I was released on Saturday 20/9.”

 

20/9 The IOF detained Ro’ya correspondent Ahmad Barahme (aged 24) for around 5 hours, beat him and interrogated him.

Barahme was on a journalistic tour for media workers in Jerusalem. He reported to MADA: “I was heading to Jerusalem for a tour entitled “Here the capital is” accompanied by my colleague Riyad Qadriyye (head of Zeinat Al-Quds media network, organizer of the tour). The IOF stopped us when we reached Al-Za’eem checkpoint and detained us in a caravan from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, when they released us.”

“During the detention, they took our IDs and cell phones. They interrogated us about the reasons why we were participating in the event and with whom we work. A soldier beat me on the chest. It still hurts and I need to go to the hospital.”

 

23/9 The Israeli occupation forces shot a bullet at AFP photographer Hazem Bader (aged 48) after he finished covering the killing of two Palestinians in Hebron by the IOF on 23/9.

He reported to MADA: “I had finished covering the events in Bir Al-Mahjar neighborhood, during which the IOF assassinated two Palestinians, Amer Abu Aishe and Marwan Al-Qawasme, and raided and targeted houses and stores, leaving some of them partially burnt. I was standing in a street, after the Israeli forces had left the area, when a bullet was shot at me, hitting my right leg and my left knee in a bounce. I was wearing the journalists’ protection vest at the time of the shooting.”

He added: “I got medical aid in the ambulance and later I went to the Red Crescent to get further treatment.”

 

24/9 The IOF assaulted Al-Falastiniyya TV cameraman Ahmad Jalajel (aged 35) and Al-Quds net photographer Diala Jwehan.

The Israeli security and police tried to prevent them from covering the measures taken by the Israeli police during the celebrations of a Jewish festival in Jerusalem. Jwehan reported to MADA: “The Israeli police closed the entrances of Jerusalem Old City, put barriers and obstructed the movement of Palestinian citizens in the city. I headed to the area to cover the event and take photos, standing in a distant area. At that time, a policeman put his hand on my camera’s lens to prevent me from covering. Then when I went to Bab Al-Majlis to take photos of Jewish women heading to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, a large number of the Israeli Special Forces chased me and prevented me from taking photos. They also threatened me with arrest. I was obviously targeted for being a journalist.”

Ahmad Jalajel reported to MADA: “While I was covering the Israeli forces preventing Muslim worshipers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, the soldiers pushed me and my camera. One of them asked me to stop filming but I refused. As a result, he beat me on the chest and held my neck with his hands; he also severely kicked me on my left leg.  I received medical treatment on site, and until now the injuries are still hurting” (after one day).

 

29/9 The Palestinian intelligence forces summoned the freelance journalist and previous chief editor of Manbar Al-Esalah newspaper Yazeed Khader (aged 50), interrogated him and detained him for 24 hours.

Yazeed Khader, from the village of Deir Alghsoun near the northern city of Tulkarem, West Bank, reported to MADA: “The Palestinian intelligence services called me and told me to go to their headquarters on the next day. I went there on 30/9 and was interrogated for less than one hour. The investigation was about the nationalist activities I participate in, especially the demonstrations organized by Hamas. I had to spend the night there, although the interrogation itself was short, and I was released on the following day without request to go there again.”

 

Photo By: Ma'mom Wazwaz for AFP photographer Hazem Bader Receiving medical treatment