Mada Center expresses its strong condemnation, of attacks by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya guards, on Palestinian journalists, whom staged a sit-in yesterday, in front of the prime minister headquarters, in Gaza City, demanding the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnson, who was abducted by armed Palestinian group, since the 12th of last March.
Abu Dhabi Channel correspondent Muhammad al-Sawalhi, Ramatan agency photographer Adnan al-porsh, Swatel photographer Kamil Bolbol, Qatar television cameraman Mustafa al-bayed, Palestinian Journalists Syndicate council member Sakher Abu Oun, and Media Group photographer Wisam al-A’shi, were beaten by the guards.
Mada Center considers this new attack on journalists, freedom of opinion and expression infringement, and serious violation of media freedoms, which are guaranteed by the Palestinian basic law, the law of the printing and Publication, and the international conventions, especially Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and demands to bring those assailants to justice.
Mada Center expresses its appreciation to all moves and efforts, on popular and official levels, which were organized for the release of Johnson, Mada demands Palestinian Authority, government, and the concerned security agencies, to redouble their efforts to release him safe and sound, and to prosecute those responsible for this crime, and bring them to trial, also confirms that the failure to prosecute those responsible for the crimes of journalists abduction in Gaza Strip, in the last three years, the security chaos and the absence of the rule of law, has led to the spread of the kidnapping phenomenon, of foreign journalists and human rights organizations workers .

Ramallah, April 3,2007