Showing posts with label Journalist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journalist. Show all posts
Friday, December 16, 2011
Indian journalists held in Myanmar
Myanmar will deport two Indian Journalist stopped and detained for being found without a valid travelling document in a restricted Myanmar area at the beginning of December. Rajjb Bhattacharya and photographer Pradip Gogoi were trying to interview Paresh Baruah, the leader of the United Liberation Front of Asom, a separatist group fighting for the independence of the northern Indian Assam state and considered a terrorist group by New Delhi. The two were reported to have been detained for investigations in the north eastern part of Myanmar, near the Chinese border. Indian authorities obtained the release of the two journalists after diplomatic efforts. The Myanmar authorities accepted to expel the journalists after further investigation and, probably, the confiscation of their cameras and phones.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Anton remembered
On April 5th, four journalists came under fire from Gaddafi forces in a particularly remote area of the Libyan desert.
An official spokesperson for the family has said that Libyan officials ‘assured’ them he was alive and in captivity, and it was not until May 18th, when Gaddafi forces released four other international journalists, that the well- being of Anton Hammerl came into question. Hammerl had been missing for over thirty five days when his colleagues; James Foley, Clare Gillis, Manu Brabo and Nigel Chandler confirmed that he was dead
His colleagues, who were allegedly captured in the same attack, claim there was no hope that Hammerl could have recovered from the gunshot wound to the stomach that he sustained in the ‘rapid fire’ attack. There will be a memorial service for Anton this week on 8th September at 3pm at St Brides' Church, Fleet Street.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
News censorship in Palestine
Human Rights Watch published their report ‘No News is Good News’ on 6th April 2011. They report that the Palestinian Authority has been arbitrarily detaining scores of West Bank journalists since 2009, often severely abusing them in the process.
According to some journalists, this has produced the intended ‘chilling effect’ on free expression and led to an increase in self-censorship.
Human Right Watch have strongly condemned these actions by the PA.
Hamas have also abused countless journalists in Gaza though the report focuses on the West Bank media specifically.
The PA has only once been held accountable for arbitrary detention/ abuse of detainees, and even then was acquitted of torturing a man to death.
Shockingly, despite this, the US and Europe make significant contributions to the PA’s budget; the majority being used to fund the security services. The US and UK are also responsible for directly funding the Preventive Security agency and GIS, who are responsible for most torture.
Following this report, on March 7th, Human Rights Watch called for Hamas to lift their restrictions on books and newspapers.
Hamas officials regularly confiscate novels from bookshops which they believe contain ‘immoral content’.
All newspaper which support the rival Fatah movement are banned in the Gaza strip (Al-Ayyam, Al-Quads and Al-Hayat al-Jadida); likewise, all newspapers supporting Hamas are banned in the West Bank (Al-Risala and As’ada).
Whilst not all papers are banned all the time, at least one is restricted most of the time. Human Rights Watch encourages both sides to permenantly lift all restrictions and permit the newspaper bureaus to operate unhindered.
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the "freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers."
It is time that authorities, both in the Gaza strip and the West Bank start to abide by this.
View Report: http://www.hrw.org/node/97791/section/2
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thoughts on the 25th January Revolution
This came in from Nadia El Shazly:
Following are some thoughts I jutted down on the events since January 25
The channels I watched during the past 17 days, by order of priority, because of their objectivity and credibility in my view, were France 24 in French and English (Arabic was cancelled), and BBC World (English and Arabic). Sometimes, I used to turn to Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera International (Arabic was cancelled, then restored later), though the latter often aired news that it was forced to deny later. Al Arabiya seemed to side with Mubarak, or at least, was wary about the democracy movement gaining ground. Statements by American very senior officials on CNN were often contradictory ... mirroring policies that seemed vacillating, which I saw as the dilemma/conundrum they were faced with, namely, side with the ideals of the revolutionaries, who demanded democracy, and, on the other hand, the pressures by Netanyahu, who was markedly frantic, during a press conference with Angela Merkel. Israel even allowed the Egyptian army to deploy some units to Sharm El Sheikh. Did Bibi know that his buddy would eventually move there? I never watched Egyptian TV, but will start now that the regime fell, and that consequently, the Minister of Information, Anas El Feqi (he reminded us of Saddam Hussein's El Sahhaf, at the time of the US-led occupation of Iraq) was removed. I strongly feel that this post should be scrapped, and Egyptian TV and radio turned into a corporation, independent of government influence.
As for Tahrir square, based on TV, the internet, reports I received from others and my own observations:
1. the demonstrations were peaceful at all times, except when they had to defend themselves against the NDP thugs, who used rocks, Molotov cocktails, and even stormed in on camel and horse-back, one night ... they were even targeted by snipers on roof-tops, and those killed had bullet wounds to their heads and chests;
2. neither American nor Israeli nor any other flags were burnt;
3. when the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to shout Islamic slogans, they were silenced once and for all by the other participants, and modern-attired young women were seen having serious friendly discussions with bearded Islamists;
4. Egypt's streets were notorious for sexual harassment ... not one case was reported;
5. in the beginning, the participants were the educated middle-class and upper middle-class computer-savvy male and female youth, followed later on, as their movement seemed to gain popularity by their sheer resilience, by families from all walks of life, members of professional syndicates and labour unions, artists (singers, actors, painters, musicians, etc), authors, poets, opposition politicians ... thousands waved the Egyptian flag, and either sang patriotic songs, or newly-created ones ... evenings, they listened to poets and singers, cracked jokes about Mubarak and the regime, and, more seriously, planned for their next steps;
6. they regularly swept the square and even hired mini-trucks to take the garbage to the dumps;
7. families, individuals and the troops distributed food and water bottles, some cooked in homes, and some from delivery shops;
8. doctors and surgeons, elderly and young, assisted by their nurses, left their private hospitals, provided sophisticated medical equipment, medicines, bandages, etc, and set-up field hospitals across the square, the biggest in the well-known Omar Makram mosque (where my mother's funerary service took place, one year ago).
9. homes surrounding the square provided the girls with the opportunity to rest a little and use their bathrooms, while shops, cafes and other establishments allowed boys to use their toilets;
10. later on, public toilets in the square, shut by the government previously, were opened and refurbished by the participants;
11. apart from those that demanded that Mubarak must leave, for the regime to fall, for the NDP to be banned, some placards, used by the demonstrators, affirmed the Egyptians' sense of humour, such as, "Mubarak, leave, my wife is in labour and the baby doesn't want to see you" ... "Mubarak, leave, I miss my wife (I've been married for 16 days)", "Mubarak, I'm a carpenter, tell me what glue you use" ... "Suzanne, if you love him, take him away" ... "Mubarak, I've been holding this sign for too long, leave, my arm is hurting" ...
12. to show the regime their resilience ... their decision to remain in the square until their demands were met, and that life would go on regardless, two young fiancees had their marriage ceremony performed by a sheikh in the square ... the bride wore her wedding dress, while the crowds cheered and offered their congratulations, along with sweets and sherbet;
13. they showed their inventiveness in many ways, from setting up tents, mainly for the female participants to sleep under and be more comfortable, as well as to shelter under when it rained ... to connect to the street lights to charge their mobiles, or to boil water for a hot drink, and more;
14. the male demonstrators formed a circle, holding hands, and guarded a "lost-and-found" display in the middle, where many, many IDs, mobile phones, even cash and other objects were exhibited;
15. as a final act, the demonstrators decided to clean-up the square, one more time, before going home.
Across Egypt, when the police forces vanished, the youngsters were stationed at street intersections. Never was traffic as regulated as when they were in charge, and drivers cooperated beautifully. No driver tried to "burn" a red traffic light, something unheard of for many years.
At the same time, when garbage collectors also disappeared, housewives and teenage girls swept the streets, gathered the garbage in sacks, and stacked them at street corners. I saw one of them, Safiyah, the daughter of the late prime minister of Egypt under the monarchy, Nuqrashi Pacha, killed by the Muslim Brotherhood. In some neighbourhoods, including mine, mini-trucks were hired to take the garbage to the dumps.
When the police opened the prisons, freed thieves, burglars and other criminals before disappearing, neighborhood watches were established right-away. In the evenings, fathers kept watch in front of the buildings, armed with iron pipes, wooden sticks, kitchen knives, and, in rare cases, licensed pistols or shotguns. From midnight on, the sons took over that responsibility.
In tandem, the army deployed tanks to sensitive areas. For instance, because I live about two hundred meters from the residence of the Alexandria governor and the Jewelry Museum on one side, and two presidential residences on the other, several tanks have kept my building safe. Nevertheless, male residents also spent the night guarding us.
Very few of the "mafia" oligarchy were named, and will be prosecuted. Many more, from the lists I have, should also be sued, and, if found guilty, have their fortunes returned to Egypt. These funds could pay back Egypt's foreign debt, establish labour-intensive industrial, agricultural enterprises, and infra-structural projects, increase wages, and improve services, such as health and education.
A number of former Egyptian officials have tried to flee, but prevented from doing so at Cairo airport, including Anas El Feqi and former PM Atef Ebeid.
The Swiss Federation of Banks have frozen the Mubarak assets half-an-hour after he resigned. Bravo. I hope that Egypt will recalibrate its relations with other countries, based on the willingness of those countries to do the same. Some of the countries named in that respect are the US, the UK, France, Brazil ... and probably others ... time will show.
Following are some thoughts I jutted down on the events since January 25
The channels I watched during the past 17 days, by order of priority, because of their objectivity and credibility in my view, were France 24 in French and English (Arabic was cancelled), and BBC World (English and Arabic). Sometimes, I used to turn to Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera International (Arabic was cancelled, then restored later), though the latter often aired news that it was forced to deny later. Al Arabiya seemed to side with Mubarak, or at least, was wary about the democracy movement gaining ground. Statements by American very senior officials on CNN were often contradictory ... mirroring policies that seemed vacillating, which I saw as the dilemma/conundrum they were faced with, namely, side with the ideals of the revolutionaries, who demanded democracy, and, on the other hand, the pressures by Netanyahu, who was markedly frantic, during a press conference with Angela Merkel. Israel even allowed the Egyptian army to deploy some units to Sharm El Sheikh. Did Bibi know that his buddy would eventually move there? I never watched Egyptian TV, but will start now that the regime fell, and that consequently, the Minister of Information, Anas El Feqi (he reminded us of Saddam Hussein's El Sahhaf, at the time of the US-led occupation of Iraq) was removed. I strongly feel that this post should be scrapped, and Egyptian TV and radio turned into a corporation, independent of government influence.
As for Tahrir square, based on TV, the internet, reports I received from others and my own observations:
1. the demonstrations were peaceful at all times, except when they had to defend themselves against the NDP thugs, who used rocks, Molotov cocktails, and even stormed in on camel and horse-back, one night ... they were even targeted by snipers on roof-tops, and those killed had bullet wounds to their heads and chests;
2. neither American nor Israeli nor any other flags were burnt;
3. when the Muslim Brotherhood attempted to shout Islamic slogans, they were silenced once and for all by the other participants, and modern-attired young women were seen having serious friendly discussions with bearded Islamists;
4. Egypt's streets were notorious for sexual harassment ... not one case was reported;
5. in the beginning, the participants were the educated middle-class and upper middle-class computer-savvy male and female youth, followed later on, as their movement seemed to gain popularity by their sheer resilience, by families from all walks of life, members of professional syndicates and labour unions, artists (singers, actors, painters, musicians, etc), authors, poets, opposition politicians ... thousands waved the Egyptian flag, and either sang patriotic songs, or newly-created ones ... evenings, they listened to poets and singers, cracked jokes about Mubarak and the regime, and, more seriously, planned for their next steps;
6. they regularly swept the square and even hired mini-trucks to take the garbage to the dumps;
7. families, individuals and the troops distributed food and water bottles, some cooked in homes, and some from delivery shops;
8. doctors and surgeons, elderly and young, assisted by their nurses, left their private hospitals, provided sophisticated medical equipment, medicines, bandages, etc, and set-up field hospitals across the square, the biggest in the well-known Omar Makram mosque (where my mother's funerary service took place, one year ago).
9. homes surrounding the square provided the girls with the opportunity to rest a little and use their bathrooms, while shops, cafes and other establishments allowed boys to use their toilets;
10. later on, public toilets in the square, shut by the government previously, were opened and refurbished by the participants;
11. apart from those that demanded that Mubarak must leave, for the regime to fall, for the NDP to be banned, some placards, used by the demonstrators, affirmed the Egyptians' sense of humour, such as, "Mubarak, leave, my wife is in labour and the baby doesn't want to see you" ... "Mubarak, leave, I miss my wife (I've been married for 16 days)", "Mubarak, I'm a carpenter, tell me what glue you use" ... "Suzanne, if you love him, take him away" ... "Mubarak, I've been holding this sign for too long, leave, my arm is hurting" ...
12. to show the regime their resilience ... their decision to remain in the square until their demands were met, and that life would go on regardless, two young fiancees had their marriage ceremony performed by a sheikh in the square ... the bride wore her wedding dress, while the crowds cheered and offered their congratulations, along with sweets and sherbet;
13. they showed their inventiveness in many ways, from setting up tents, mainly for the female participants to sleep under and be more comfortable, as well as to shelter under when it rained ... to connect to the street lights to charge their mobiles, or to boil water for a hot drink, and more;
14. the male demonstrators formed a circle, holding hands, and guarded a "lost-and-found" display in the middle, where many, many IDs, mobile phones, even cash and other objects were exhibited;
15. as a final act, the demonstrators decided to clean-up the square, one more time, before going home.
Across Egypt, when the police forces vanished, the youngsters were stationed at street intersections. Never was traffic as regulated as when they were in charge, and drivers cooperated beautifully. No driver tried to "burn" a red traffic light, something unheard of for many years.
At the same time, when garbage collectors also disappeared, housewives and teenage girls swept the streets, gathered the garbage in sacks, and stacked them at street corners. I saw one of them, Safiyah, the daughter of the late prime minister of Egypt under the monarchy, Nuqrashi Pacha, killed by the Muslim Brotherhood. In some neighbourhoods, including mine, mini-trucks were hired to take the garbage to the dumps.
When the police opened the prisons, freed thieves, burglars and other criminals before disappearing, neighborhood watches were established right-away. In the evenings, fathers kept watch in front of the buildings, armed with iron pipes, wooden sticks, kitchen knives, and, in rare cases, licensed pistols or shotguns. From midnight on, the sons took over that responsibility.
In tandem, the army deployed tanks to sensitive areas. For instance, because I live about two hundred meters from the residence of the Alexandria governor and the Jewelry Museum on one side, and two presidential residences on the other, several tanks have kept my building safe. Nevertheless, male residents also spent the night guarding us.
Very few of the "mafia" oligarchy were named, and will be prosecuted. Many more, from the lists I have, should also be sued, and, if found guilty, have their fortunes returned to Egypt. These funds could pay back Egypt's foreign debt, establish labour-intensive industrial, agricultural enterprises, and infra-structural projects, increase wages, and improve services, such as health and education.
A number of former Egyptian officials have tried to flee, but prevented from doing so at Cairo airport, including Anas El Feqi and former PM Atef Ebeid.
The Swiss Federation of Banks have frozen the Mubarak assets half-an-hour after he resigned. Bravo. I hope that Egypt will recalibrate its relations with other countries, based on the willingness of those countries to do the same. Some of the countries named in that respect are the US, the UK, France, Brazil ... and probably others ... time will show.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The Arab online
The Arab magazine has gone online - a commendable effort. To view click on this link
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Iran throws out Foreign Press
First AFP then Al Jazeera now Al Arabia. Soon there won't be any foreign press left in Iran. We don't like some of the anti-Western stuff that Press TV comes out with but that doesn't mean we chuck them out of the country.Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Death in Kirkuk
The killing of journalists is becoming more and more common in Iraq. Now, in response to one such incident, the Kurdish Regional Government is proposing a new press law.
The Kurdistan Regional Government is saddened and shocked by the recent killing of the journalist Soran Mama Hama. We in the KRG believe strongly in the right of free speech and condemn this killing in the strongest possible terms.
The Kurdistan Regional Government is saddened and shocked by the recent killing of the journalist Soran Mama Hama. We in the KRG believe strongly in the right of free speech and condemn this killing in the strongest possible terms.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
As Iraqis See It
124 journalists who have been killed since the start of the Iraq war, 102 have been Iraqis. This item came in from Stafford Clarry:
When it comes to covering the war in Iraq, McClatchy Newspapers has always done things a bit differently. The third-largest newspaper company in the US, it owns thirty-one daily papers, including The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, The Kansas City Star, and The Charlotte Observer. (It became the owner of some of these papers after buying Knight Ridder newspapers in 2006.) McClatchy has a large bureau in Washington, but without a paper either in the capital or in New York, it operates outside the glare of the nation's political and media elite, and this has freed it to follow its own path.
In the months leading up to the Iraq war, when most news organizations were dutifully relaying the Bush administration's claims about the threat posed by Iraq, Knight Ridder/McClatchy ran several stories questioning their accuracy. Since the invasion, the company has run a lean but resourceful operation in Baghdad. All three of its bureau chiefs have been young Arab-American women with some fluency in Arabic. At home in the cultures of both the West and the Middle East, they have been adept at interpreting each to the other.
TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
When it comes to covering the war in Iraq, McClatchy Newspapers has always done things a bit differently. The third-largest newspaper company in the US, it owns thirty-one daily papers, including The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, The Kansas City Star, and The Charlotte Observer. (It became the owner of some of these papers after buying Knight Ridder newspapers in 2006.) McClatchy has a large bureau in Washington, but without a paper either in the capital or in New York, it operates outside the glare of the nation's political and media elite, and this has freed it to follow its own path.
In the months leading up to the Iraq war, when most news organizations were dutifully relaying the Bush administration's claims about the threat posed by Iraq, Knight Ridder/McClatchy ran several stories questioning their accuracy. Since the invasion, the company has run a lean but resourceful operation in Baghdad. All three of its bureau chiefs have been young Arab-American women with some fluency in Arabic. At home in the cultures of both the West and the Middle East, they have been adept at interpreting each to the other.
TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Promising Freedom, Hamas Pressures Journalists
It is truly worrying that Hamas is placing restrictions on the press. This must be stopped. It is an issue we will take up:
Rafi Dajani sent us a note of this piece in which the New York Times is taking a look at the restrictions facing journalists in Gaza imposed by Hamas.
GAZA CITY, Sept. 4 — During the first Fatah protest rally at Friday Prayer here late last month, a number of Palestinian journalists trying to cover the event were beaten by the Hamas police force. Some journalists were arrested and their cameras seized, prompting complaints from the Gaza branch of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
The next night, at about 10 p.m., Hamas police officers entered Sakher Abu El Oun’s courtyard, preparing to arrest him. Mr. Abu El Oun, a reporter for Agence France-Presse and head of the union here, telephoned a colleague.
“I called one journalist who sent out an SMS,” he said, referring to a text message, “and within minutes, about 70 journalists and some human rights activists came to my house and prevented them from taking me away. My kids were crying. It was a very ugly picture.”
TO VIEW FULL ITEM CLICK HERE
Rafi Dajani sent us a note of this piece in which the New York Times is taking a look at the restrictions facing journalists in Gaza imposed by Hamas.
GAZA CITY, Sept. 4 — During the first Fatah protest rally at Friday Prayer here late last month, a number of Palestinian journalists trying to cover the event were beaten by the Hamas police force. Some journalists were arrested and their cameras seized, prompting complaints from the Gaza branch of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
The next night, at about 10 p.m., Hamas police officers entered Sakher Abu El Oun’s courtyard, preparing to arrest him. Mr. Abu El Oun, a reporter for Agence France-Presse and head of the union here, telephoned a colleague.
“I called one journalist who sent out an SMS,” he said, referring to a text message, “and within minutes, about 70 journalists and some human rights activists came to my house and prevented them from taking me away. My kids were crying. It was a very ugly picture.”
TO VIEW FULL ITEM CLICK HERE
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Saudi Arabia Must Be Culturally Open
An intersting piece sent in by Memri. One reason the Arab World is so actively pursuing peace with Israel at the moment is the problem of the radicalisation of the populations of the region as the status quo festers on:
In an article in the Saudi daily Al-Watan, Saudi columnist Sa'ud Al-Balawi criticized attempts by Saudi religious streams to sabotage the country's annual cultural events, thereby transforming Saudi Arabia into a Taliban society, isolated from the rest of the world. The following are excerpts:
Last Tuesday, Al-Watan reported that eight extremists had threatened to disrupt vocal concerts organized as part of the annual Jeddah festival, after trying to persuade the public not to enter the concert hall. Having failed, [the extremists] began to shout, threatening to stop the festivities by any possible means... "Extremist tendencies are becoming increasingly widespread in our midst. This kind of attitude reminds us of past incidents such as [the disturbances] at the international book fair and at Al-Yamama College...
TO VIEW FULL ITEM CLICK HERE
In an article in the Saudi daily Al-Watan, Saudi columnist Sa'ud Al-Balawi criticized attempts by Saudi religious streams to sabotage the country's annual cultural events, thereby transforming Saudi Arabia into a Taliban society, isolated from the rest of the world. The following are excerpts:
Last Tuesday, Al-Watan reported that eight extremists had threatened to disrupt vocal concerts organized as part of the annual Jeddah festival, after trying to persuade the public not to enter the concert hall. Having failed, [the extremists] began to shout, threatening to stop the festivities by any possible means... "Extremist tendencies are becoming increasingly widespread in our midst. This kind of attitude reminds us of past incidents such as [the disturbances] at the international book fair and at Al-Yamama College...
TO VIEW FULL ITEM CLICK HERE
Friday, June 15, 2007
International Media Council: UK Media Conference
There will be an International Media Council conference on Monday 18th June in the UK. Details on link below. If you wish to attend e-mail NCFPeace@aol.com
International Media Council: UK Media Conference
International Media Council: UK Media Conference
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Alan Johnston
Word is from NCF sources that the UK government vetoed an attempt to rescue Alan Johnston and instead coordinated negotiations for the payment of ransom. How sick is that?
According to reports, the missing BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, has been visited by a senior member of Hamas at least once since he was kidnapped12 weeks ago (The Telegraph).
According to reports, the missing BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, has been visited by a senior member of Hamas at least once since he was kidnapped12 weeks ago (The Telegraph).
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Evidence that BBC reporter was taken
Tape provides first evidence that BBC reporter was taken (the Independent) and the kidnappers call for Britain to free Muslim prisoners (the Daily Telegraph)
Friday, May 04, 2007
More freedom of Press demanded in Bahrain
Bahrain Tribune - 04 May, 2007Scores of journalists protested outside the parliament building yesterday to call for greater Press freedom and object to what they called some parliamentarians’ meddling in cultural affairs. Bahrain Journalists Association chief Isa Al Shaygi said the journalists wanted a new Press law that scraps jail terms for Press offences, and an end to a parliamentary probe into a recent cultural event.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
More on Johnston
Latest gossip on the Johnston front is that they are now asking the standard "Al-Qa'aidah question" which is for the release of that female bomber held by Jordan. We have had that as a standard first request in Iraqi kidnappings we deal with - it does not make sense for Dagmoush to be saying this - unless he is so irritated about not being given his brother's killers that he has decided to be obstreperous. Anyway the above bit of gossip is from Adel Darwish just back from Amman and is more likely to be intelligence agency detritus like the so-called "fax". Here's something from the Independent:
A letter to the editor in The Independent calls for President Abbas to restore order to Gaza, especially following the kidnapping of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston.
Abbas must restore order in Gaza - Letter from Dr Charles Tannock MEP
Sir: Your report on the worsening security situation in the Gaza Strip ("Minister offers to quit in Gaza row", 24 April) might also have mentioned the abduction of the BBC correspondent Alan Johnston. This week in Strasbourg, MEPs will add their voices to the appeals for his immediate release."
TO VIEW RELEVANT INDEPENDENT LETTERS SECTION CLICK HERE
A letter to the editor in The Independent calls for President Abbas to restore order to Gaza, especially following the kidnapping of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston.
Abbas must restore order in Gaza - Letter from Dr Charles Tannock MEP
Sir: Your report on the worsening security situation in the Gaza Strip ("Minister offers to quit in Gaza row", 24 April) might also have mentioned the abduction of the BBC correspondent Alan Johnston. This week in Strasbourg, MEPs will add their voices to the appeals for his immediate release."
TO VIEW RELEVANT INDEPENDENT LETTERS SECTION CLICK HERE
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
BBC's Concern At Gaza Man's Fate
We hope and pray for Alan Johnston’s release. Ms Hoda al Husseini of Sharq al Awsat asked us to intervene at a recent International Media Council meeting in the House of Lords.
We therefore feel we should honour our commitment to Hoda and the other Media Council members who have expressed concern and we hope to send our own team to Gaza at the earliest opportunity.
TO VIEW AN ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT CLICK HERE
We therefore feel we should honour our commitment to Hoda and the other Media Council members who have expressed concern and we hope to send our own team to Gaza at the earliest opportunity.
TO VIEW AN ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT CLICK HERE
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Moroccan journalists face 5 years' jail for joke
Ian Black, Middle East editor - Tuesday January 9, 2007 The Guardian
Retelling other people's jokes can have serious consequences, as two Moroccan journalists have found to their cost as they face charges of insulting Islam and offending public morality - and a possible prison sentence of up to five years.
The case against the Arabic weekly Nichane has serious implications for press freedom and highlights tensions between hopes for liberalisation and Islamist opinion outraged by what the magazine says was a harmless survey of the nation's sense of humour.
TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Retelling other people's jokes can have serious consequences, as two Moroccan journalists have found to their cost as they face charges of insulting Islam and offending public morality - and a possible prison sentence of up to five years.
The case against the Arabic weekly Nichane has serious implications for press freedom and highlights tensions between hopes for liberalisation and Islamist opinion outraged by what the magazine says was a harmless survey of the nation's sense of humour.
TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Journalist kidnapped in Gaza
William comments: These trademark kidnappings by Fatah are becoming too common:
TO VIEW REPORT CLICK HERE
TO VIEW REPORT CLICK HERE
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Objectivity
The Independent (UK) interviews BBC Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen on the challenges of objective reporting
Jeremy Bowen: The man in the middle
The Independent
December 11, 2006
Jeremy Bowen: The man in the middle
The Independent
December 11, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Reuters journalist arrested
This item was submitted by Uri Avnery:
Urgent: Sign, phone, fax, email to help achieve the release of Reuters video-journalist Emad Mohammad Bornat of Bil'in
Your help is needed to help release Emad Mohammad Bornat of the village of Bil'in,
video photographer for Reuters and documentary film maker, who was arrested on Friday October 6th, 2006 by a Israeli Border Police unit that entered the village, firing rubber bullets and sound grenades. Emad is being held in Israeli military custody and will be brought in front of a judge at Ofer military base today Tuesday the 10th of October.
Please, phone, fax, write to the addresses at: http://toibillboard.info/gov_addr.txt
Emad, who was filming at the time, was arrested by an Israeli Border policeman. When Emad arrived at the police station in Givat Zeev, he was wounded. The Border Police soldiers claimed a radio "fell" on him in the jeep, on the way to the station. He was taken to the Hadassah - Har Hatzofim hospital and was then taken back to the police station in Givat Zeev. After he was interrogated, the police refused to view the tapes that Emad filmed. Emad is accused of "assault on an officer" and of stone
throwing and was sent to the Etzion prison. Israeli Border Police have in the past been rebuked by military judges on false testimonies towards arrested Palestinian demonstrators and their Israeli supporters.
Emad has tirelessly documented the struggle of his village against the wall and settlements, and is known by many other professionals with whom he works and cooperates, giving them video material for their films and reports. He is a man of peace and a dedicated and responsible video-photo-journalist. His video footage has been broadcast throughout the world, showing the demonstrations against the wall Israel is constructing on his village's land. It shows the routine, and often
brutal, violence of the Israeli military in general and the Border Police in particular on the demonstrations, especially as used against Palestinians.
For more information:
Attorney Gaby Laski: 054 449 18988
Mohammed Khatib: 054 557 3285
Shai Polack: 054 533 3364
See also: Meron Rapaport: Judge orders probe over Palestinian cameraman hurt in Bil'in
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/772866.html (English)
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/772855.html (Hebrew)
Urgent: Sign, phone, fax, email to help achieve the release of Reuters video-journalist Emad Mohammad Bornat of Bil'in
Your help is needed to help release Emad Mohammad Bornat of the village of Bil'in,
video photographer for Reuters and documentary film maker, who was arrested on Friday October 6th, 2006 by a Israeli Border Police unit that entered the village, firing rubber bullets and sound grenades. Emad is being held in Israeli military custody and will be brought in front of a judge at Ofer military base today Tuesday the 10th of October.
Please, phone, fax, write to the addresses at: http://toibillboard.info/gov_addr.txt
Emad, who was filming at the time, was arrested by an Israeli Border policeman. When Emad arrived at the police station in Givat Zeev, he was wounded. The Border Police soldiers claimed a radio "fell" on him in the jeep, on the way to the station. He was taken to the Hadassah - Har Hatzofim hospital and was then taken back to the police station in Givat Zeev. After he was interrogated, the police refused to view the tapes that Emad filmed. Emad is accused of "assault on an officer" and of stone
throwing and was sent to the Etzion prison. Israeli Border Police have in the past been rebuked by military judges on false testimonies towards arrested Palestinian demonstrators and their Israeli supporters.
Emad has tirelessly documented the struggle of his village against the wall and settlements, and is known by many other professionals with whom he works and cooperates, giving them video material for their films and reports. He is a man of peace and a dedicated and responsible video-photo-journalist. His video footage has been broadcast throughout the world, showing the demonstrations against the wall Israel is constructing on his village's land. It shows the routine, and often
brutal, violence of the Israeli military in general and the Border Police in particular on the demonstrations, especially as used against Palestinians.
For more information:
Attorney Gaby Laski: 054 449 18988
Mohammed Khatib: 054 557 3285
Shai Polack: 054 533 3364
See also: Meron Rapaport: Judge orders probe over Palestinian cameraman hurt in Bil'in
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/772866.html (English)
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/772855.html (Hebrew)
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