MADA – Ramallah, 10/11/2014: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demands that the security forces in Gaza stop their harassment of the blogger Hazem Salame who also writes for different local news websites (i.e. Amad, Al-Kufiyya, Al-Karama). Salame was arrested on Saturday 8/11/2014 and was interrogated and beaten on the background of his writings on his personal blog and other news outlets. He is summoned again today for interrogation at the internal security headquarters.

 

Salame reported to MADA: “Three general investigation officers came to my house in Al-Shate’ refugee camp in Gaza on Saturday at around 10:00 AM but I was not at home. They handed an order to my family telling me to go to their headquarters immediately. I went there at 11:00 AM.”

 

He explained that when he arrived at the investigation headquarters, he was detained for investigation by internal security forces and investigation officers.

 

He continued: “The investigation focused on three subjects. First, the articles I write on my blog and for other news websites, especially the last article I wrote about what is happening in Gaza (issued on Friday/Saturday, i.e. a few hours before being arrested), and another one about Mohammed Dahlan. Second, I was interrogated about what happened at Al-Azhar University lately (a political festival in which I did not participate), and last about the latest bombings which took place in Gaza (targeting Fatah leaders houses).”

 

He added: “They accused me of inciting against Hamas and its administration in my articles, and blamed me for the latest bombings in Gaza. I was beaten and threatened throughout the interrogation.”

 

“I was kept in very bad conditions, in a prison cell without mattress to sleep on until Sunday dawn (9/11/2014). On Sunday they took me for interrogation again and eventually released me at around 1:30 PM. I was however requested to go to the internal security headquarters in Ansar on Monday.”

 

MADA condemns the arrest of Salame, and expresses its concern for the continuous harassment of journalists and bloggers for their writings, which is an infringement of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law.