Ref: 82/2007

Date: 02 August 2007

Time: 12:30 GMT

PCHR Concerned over Banning Broadcast of Palestinian TV’s “Red Line” from Gaza

PCHR strongly condemns banning the broadcasting of “Red Line” program on Palestine TV from Gaza City. The ban came from the Ministry of Information in the dismissed government in Gaza. The Centre is extremely concerned by this action that constitutes an infringement on freedom of expression and journalism rights.

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that Ramattan News Agency received a letter yesterday, 1 August 2007, from the Ministry of Information of the dismissed government in Gaza. The letter bore the official seal of the Ministry; but there was no signature on it. The letter asked Ramattan to suspend the broadcasting of “Red Line” by Hasan El-Kashef. The program was slated for broadcasting at 19:30 yesterday by renting a broadcasting hour from Ramattan due to the stoppage of broadcast from Palestine TV after the Gaza events in mid June. It is noted that the program broadcast an episode from Gaza last Wednesday (25 July 2007). The Ministry claimed that the program is for Palestine’s official television station, whose status is linked to the political situation requiring national compromise in accordance the Publications and Broadcasting Law of 1995.

PCHR strongly condemns this ban, and:

1.      Considers that action of the Ministry of Information to be an infringement in the work of the media, including that of news agencies and media establishments that should work in freedom.

2.      Is concerned over considering the work of Palestine Television in the Gaza Strip to be tied to the political situation, and calls for the immediate resumption of broadcast of Palestinian TV from Gaza.

3.      Views this action to be an infringement on freedom of expression and journalism freedoms in the OPT; and affirms that these rights are protected by the Basic Law in accordance with international human rights standards.

4.      Calls upon all parties to respect journalism freedoms, and to refrain from dragging the media into the ongoing struggle between Fatah and Hamas.