26 August 2010

he Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns the Palestinian Security service attack on Watan TV crew (Khalid Milhim and Aysar Barghouthi) yesterday afternoon 25 August 2010, in Ramallah. The accident took place while the journalists were covering a protest march against prevent holding a conference against direct negotiations between Palestinian National Authority and Israeli government, which organized by a group of Palestinian factions and civil society organizations. Watan TV said in a statement that the security services have beaten the two journalists Milhim and Barghouthi and confiscated their camera tape. 

Its worth mentioning that the Palestinian security services raided Watan TV’s headquarter on 17 July 2010, after their coverage of “Hizb Al-Tahrir" march, which was banned by the security services. 

MADA considers the attack on Watan TV and prevent holding the National conference which against the direct negotiations between Palestinian Authority and Israeli government is a flagrant violation of freedom of expression. 

MADA center demands to stop all attacks on freedom of expression in the Palestinian territories. MADA also welcomes the President Mahmoud Abbas decision to form an investigation committee in the accident. 
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Contact: 
Riham Abu Aita
Public Relation Officer
Ramallah
riham@madacenter.org
www.madacenter.org
00970 2 2976519