Ramallah – 23rd Jan. 2025: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the arrest of journalist MOHAMMED AL-ATRASH by Palestinian security forces on the evening of Wednesday, January 22. This action constitutes a blatant violation of media freedoms and human rights, as guaranteed by both local and international law.
Palestinian security forces stormed the home of journalist MOHAMMED AL-ATRASH in the city of Hebron and arrested him upon his return from covering the Israeli military’s incursion into the city of Jenin. He is currently being held at the Hebron Public Prosecutor’s office for interrogation.
MADA condemns the detention of journalist AL-ATRASH based on his professional media work and further condemns the ongoing harassment and targeting of journalists while performing their duties. Such actions represent a direct threat to freedom of expression and the public’s right to access information, especially at a time when the Palestinian people are facing severe and escalating attacks from Israeli forces and authorities. It is imperative that journalists and media institutions continue to cover and report these developments to the world.
MADA calls for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist MOHAMMED AL-ATRASH and urges the relevant authorities to respect international conventions that safeguard media freedom and the protection of journalists. We also appeal to the international community and human rights organizations to take a firm stance against this escalation, ensuring an end to all forms of violations against Palestinian media, in the face of the serious repression faced by the Palestinian people.
