504 IOF violations against journalists since 2008
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns the arrest and continued incarceration of 5 Palestinian journalists and expresses its concern of their wellbeing.
The five journalists are:
- Walid Khaled: Director of Palestine newspaper in the West Bank – arrested on the 8th of May, sentenced to 6 months administrative detention.
- Nawaf Al-Amer: Al-Quds TV programme coordinator in the West Bank – arrested on the 28th of June, sentenced to administrative detention (period indefinite) on 5 July 2011.
- Samer Allawy: Al-Jazeera Afghanistan Bureau Chief – arrested on the 9th of August 2011, still pending charge or trial.
- Osaid Amarneh: Al-Aqsa TV cameraman – arrested on 21 August 2011.
- Amer Abu Arafeh: Shab Agency correspondent – arrested on 21 August 2011.
These arrests reflect the continuation of Israeli Occupation Forces’ violations against journalists and enduring disregard for international human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territories: in the past three years MADA has monitored 504 IOF (including military and settlers) violations against journalists and media outlets, comprising of 147 violations in 2008, 173 in 2009, 139 in 2010, and 45 in the first 6 months of 2011.
MADA demands the immediate release of these unlawfully detained journalists and additionally demands the international community in its capacity in formal human rights institutions and the bodies of the United Nations exercise real pressure on the Israeli government to expedite their release, in accordance with the tenets of international law and article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
