Ref: 50/2008
Date: 25 May 2008
Time: 10:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns Detention of 2
Journalists by Police in Gaza
PCHR strongly condemns the detention of journalist Samir
Khalifa, Sudan TV Correspondent, and Ramattan cameraman Ahmad El-Ras by
Police in Gaza City. The Centre stresses that the right to freedom of
expression and exchange of information are basic rights guaranteed by
the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights instruments.
The Center’s preliminary investigation and the testimony
of Samir Khalifa indicate that at approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 24
May, a Police patrol intercepted journalist Samir Khalifa and cameraman
Ahmad El-Ras in Palestine Square in the center of Gaza City. Both
journalists had just finished a special report for Sudan TV. The Police
forced the two to accompany them to the Sheja’eya Police Station near
Palestine Square. In the station, the Police confiscated the cell phone
of Ahmad El-Ras; while Khalifa refused to surrender his phone. He called
Ramattan News Agency who sent a representative to the Police Station to
check into the issue. After about 90 minutes, Khalifa met the Police
Commander in the station, who informed him that the detention was on the
suspicion that he had returned to work for Palestine TV. Both were
released at approximately 16:30.
PCHR condemns the continuation of attacks on journalists
and obstructing their work, and:
-
Calls for keeping journalists out of the
ongoing power struggle between Fatah and Hamas.
-
Affirms that freedom of expression is
guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international
instruments.
