HTML clipboard

PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 26/2004

Date: 15 February  2004

Time: 08:00 GMT (10:00 Palestine Time)

PCHR Condemns Attack against Journalist Munir Abu Rezeq

 PCHR strongly condemns continuous attacks against Palestinian journalists and media institutions, including the latest incident of arson against Munir Abu Rezeq, director of offices of the daily al-Hayat al-Jadeeda in Gaza city.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Attorney General to conduct a full and fair investigation into the incident as well as similar previous incidents.  PCHR is increasingly concerned by the escalation of attacks against journalists and press institutions, which threaten freedom of press and expression. 

 According to Munir Abu Rezeq, at approximately 02:00 on Friday, 13 February 2004, neighbors woke and informed him that his car, parked near the apartment building where he lives in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza city, was burning.  He added that investigations conducted by the police indicated that the incident was planned, and that a bottle of fuel was used to burn the car.

 Recently similar attacks against journalists and press institutions, whose perpetrators have not been identified, took place.  On 3 February 2004, staff members of al-Dar Magazine in Gaza arrived at their offices after the Eid al-Adha holiday to discover their offices attacked and their furniture and equipment destroyed.  On 2 February 2004, 3 armed veiled men broke into al-Quds Educational Television offices in al-Bireh, attacked its staff, and opened fire at its equipment, destroying them.  On 8 January 2004, unknown individuals severely beat Saif al-Din Shahin, correspondent of al-Arabiya Satellite Channel, shortly after he left his office in Gaza city.    

 PCHR considers this violent action and previous similar actions as attacks on the freedom of the press, of opinion, and of expression.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Authority to conduct a full and fair investigation into the incident and to bring those found responsible to justice in accordance with the rule of law.         

Public Document

**************************************

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org