Ramallah – January 11th, 2023. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom “MADA” expresses its concerns and condemns the actions of the Palestinian Security Forces that suppressed and assaulted journalists to prevent them from covering a peaceful march organized on Tuesday evening January 10th downtown Nablus. This march was demanding the release of political prisoners from the Palestinian Security Forces’ prisons.
The cameraman of “Al-Jazeera Live” MOHAMMED MAHMOUD TURKMAN (25 years old), reported to MADA that he was covering the peaceful march organized by citizens at the Martyrs “Ashuhada” roundabout at 05:00 PM on Tuesday, demanding the Security forces to release the political prisoners.
Moreover, while MOHAMMED was filming the march, a number of the National Security Forces affiliates approached him and asked him to stop filming, despite knowing that he is a journalist and wearing the press uniform. Afterward, some other affiliates approached him in civilian clothes and identified themselves as personnel from the General Intelligence. They confiscated his cell phone and journalist ID and asked him to see them at the General Intelligence HQ in Nablus.
The journalist TURKMAN recovered his belongings half an hour later after calling the Journalists Syndicate that in return communicated with the Security Forces.
MADA condemns this unjustified violation against TURKMAN and all journalists and asks for them to be left alone and that media freedom must be protected. Also, MADA condemns the assault against this peaceful march by using force, stun grenades, and teargas. This peaceful march is listed under Freedom of Speech which the Palestinian Basic Law protects. Moreover, MADA requests protection for such gatherings as such suppression and assault represent a clear violation of Freedom of Speech.
