The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) Denounces
the arrest of Kuwaiti channel (Wisal) programs maker Ziad Ismail Awad by
the Palestinian Internal Security in Gaza Strip. Awad said that members of
the Internal Security came yesterday -13 December 2009-, to his house at
8:00 am and took him to their headquarters in Deir al-Balah.

Awad, who also working as office director of Fateh parliamentary bloc in
center region(Gaza Strip) said that he was questioned about his
relationship with Wisal channel where he prepare a program showing the
suffering of Palestinian people in Gaza, and also was questioned about his
relationship with the Palestinian Legislative council. Despite the
investigation did not exceed quarter of an hour Awad was in detention until
11:00 pm. then he was released. Awad said: “I was not tortured, but they
treated me roughly, and did not give me food. They asked me to give them my
computer, but I told them: Go and Take it from the prosecution."

On the other hand MADA condemns the raid on the headquarters of the
Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza strip by unknown people, and the theft of
about one thousand dollars.

MADA renew its call to stop all manifestations of attacks on media freedoms
and journalists, and demands the concerned authorities to let them work
freely and without harassment. MADA also calls to open a serious
investigation about the attack on the NGOS network headquarters and to
punish those responsible of it.