Ramallh-1/02/2016- Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms "MADA" demands the Palestinian National Security Service and police to investigate the intentional and reputedly assault of Sami Saed Saai- the correspondent of "the local Fajer Jadeed TV", which occurred in the evening of Wednesday, 27th of January 2016, while covering protests against power outage in Nour Shams refugee camp-Tullkarm governate at the northern of West Bank.
Saai reported to MADA: " on 17th of January 2016, at around 8:00pm, Ala' Jallad-the cameraman of the TV- and Abdullah Arref- officer at the radio department- and I went to cover the confrontations between Palestinian Security Forces and the youth of Nour Shams refugee camp, in Tulkarm at the northern of West Bank. Meanwhile, five masked persons, wearing military uniforms, who are from anti-riot squad, suddenly attacked and beaten me; for allegedly that the coverage is prevented.
Hence, they pulled me to a patrol for anti-riot squad, rather than trying to take the camera. However, I gave the camera to my friend, who is the driver of the police patrol."
Saai also added: " they continued beating me even though that they know that I am a journalist. Then, I was transferred to the headquarter of Palestinian Police Directorate in Tullkarm, in which someone punched me, in addition to kicking my back. Thus, these violations occurred in front of each Muhammad Abu Bakker- a deputy commander of Tullkarm police- and Abu Affif Muhanna- the commander of the police in Tullkarm, despite that Abu Bakker ordered them to not touch me."
He also added: “after that, they transferred me to the investigation office, located in the same building of Tullkarm Police, and there they detained me for around three hours. Subsequently, I was transferred to the office of the deputy commander of the police (the office of Muhammad Abu Bakke), in which there were present some of my colleagues who are working with “Fajjer Jadeed TV”. Hence, and after a verbal argument, I knew that the police and security forces refused my presence to cover events, for allegedly I was seditious, in addition to claiming that they did not know that I am a journalist, even though I was putting a press sign on my vest, as well as they didn’t previously inform me to not filming, and even they didn’t ask for my ID. However, they finally gave me the camera after they confiscated its memory that having all the images of the events."
Hence, Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms "MADA" strongly condemns such violations against Palestinian media freedoms. Consequently, it affirms the need to investigate into the serious violation against Assi, rather than demands to hold accountable those responsible for that serious assault. MADA urges once again the Palestinian concerned sides to take the necessary steps to end violations against journalists and media outlets.
