107
These actions constitute grave violations of the media freedoms which are
guaranteed in Articles 19 and 27 of the Palestinian Basic Law, as well as by the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants and UN
resolutions dedicated to this issue. That said, the violations took the forms so
described in the following discussion.
1‐ Arrest and Interrogation of Journalists
ICHR traced the arrests of (31) journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
These arrests cast a negative impression on individuals working in this field and
formed a source of concern for many amongst them, preventing them from
covering events according to professional standards out of fear of arrest or
pursuit. The majority of the arrests of journalists in the West Bank failed to follow
proper legal procedures, and were marked by a complete absence of guarantees
for a fair trial, not to mention the fact that many journalists were subjected to
torture and inhumane treatment. The interrogation of journalists focused on
their work, their media and professional activities of covering events, or
photographing, writing or preparing audio or visual media reports, or contacting
stations banned from working in the West Bank, such as Al Aqsa satellite channel
or radio station broadcasting from the Gaza Strip. It also included corresponding
with or writing for newspapers such as Al Risala and Falasteen, newspapers both
issued in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, ICHR received many complaints about the arrest and detention
of several journalists. The General Intelligence Service in Hebron detained Samir
Anwar Rushdi Rashid, a Palestinian journalist from the city of Hebron. He works
as a correspondent for the Voice of Al‐Aqsa, which broadcasts from the Gaza
Strip. According to ICHR’s documentation, “the journalist was detained on
06/05/2010, without being brought before any competent judicial authority
regarding the background of his work as a journalist. His detention constitutes a
violation of the freedom of press and freedom of media within the PNA
territories.”113 On 08/12/2010, the General Intelligence Service re‐arrested him
and confiscated his computer and another from his sister, knowing that he was
working for ‘Alam Radio affiliated with Hebron University.114 On 10/11/2010, the
General Intelligence Service in the city of Hebron arrested Amer Abdul Halim
Mohammad Abu ‘Arafa, a Palestinian journalist and a reporter for Shahab News,
headquartered in the Gaza Strip. He claimed to have been exposed to Shabah by
113
114
See ICHR’s report for the month of May published on its website www.ichr.ps
According to the complaint submitted by the mentioned person to ICHR.
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