MADA expresses concerns about the lack of accountability for the killing of journalists
MADA – Ramallah, 2/11/2014: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expresses concern about the absence of accountability for the perpetrators of violations of journalists’ rights, especially the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) which committed numerous crimes against Palestinian journalists during the latest attack on the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014.
MADA General director Mousa Rimawi said that the IOF committed more than 930 violations against Palestinian journalists between 2008 and the first half of 2014. During the latest attack on Gaza, MADA monitored 150 violations committed by the IOF. None of the perpetrators have been held accountable, not even for the 39 journalist and media workers killed since 2000.
He added that this state of impunity encourages the aggressors to continue and intensify their assaults against journalists and media workers, as illustrated by the latest Israeli attack on Gaza during which 17 journalists and media workers were killed in less than two months.
This reminder comes on the occasion of the UN-sanctioned International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, and in the framework of a global campaign to demand accountability for those targeted for exercising their right to freedom of expression launched by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange network (IFEX) with activities to be held around the globe till 23rd of November. IFEX participated in advocating for the adoption of this day by the UN. (MADA is the only Palestinian organization member in IFEX).
Rimawi reminded that condemning the Israeli violations, which are the most serious and the most numerous, does not mean keeping silent on the violations against journalists committed by Palestinian sides, which reached the number of 577 violations between 2008 and the first semester of 2014. He pointed out that, likewise, the aggressors have not been held accountable in most of the cases, which has a negative impact on the Palestinian media and strengthens self-censorship among journalists. At the beginning of October, MADA launched a new campaign to curtail this phenomenon.
MADA repeats that those responsible for violating journalists’ rights and freedom of expression should be held accountable, especially those guilty of severe assaults. MADA also urges the international community to make real pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to stop their violations against Palestinian journalists and media outlets. It also urges the Palestinian decision-makers to respect freedom of expression and stop harassing journalists and activists for their journalistic work or their writings on social media.
