Ref: 119/2007
Date: 10 September 2007
Time: 11:00 GMT
PCHR Condemns Use of Force to Disperse Student Conference and Attacks on Journalists in Hebron
PCHR strongly condemns the use of force by Palestinian security to disperse a student conference organized by the Hebron University Student Council yesterday. The Centre also condemns the attacks by these security services on several journalists and banning them from conducting their work in covering the events. The Centre calls for investigating these attacks, and affirms that they are flagrant violations of the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression that are protected by the Palestinian Basic Law.
The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that the administration of the University of Hebron refused to give permission to the Student Council, controlled by the pro-Hamas Islamic Bloc, to organize a conference on campus. On Sunday, 9 September 2007, the Student Council organized the conference in the street in front of the University. As a result a police force arrived to disperse the gathering and stop the loudspeakers. Afterwards, a large number of security personnel, including female police to deal with female students, arrived and started to disperse the gathering by force using sticks. Several students were injured and others were detained. The conference was dispersed and the students withdrew from the area.
Security forces attacked several journalists and prevented them from covering the events. Several journalists were detained and prevented from using their mobile phones or taking pictures. When the journalists complained to the Hebron Police Commander, Brig. Gen. Samih El-Seifi, he allowed them to carry on with their work. But 5 minutes later, security officers surprised the journalists by attacking them again, and preventing them from taking pictures in the presence of the Police Commander. Eyewitnesses stated that the Police Commander slapped the photographer Yosri El-Jamal when he informed the commander that security officers have violated his instructions and are attacking journalists.
Six journalists suffered bruises and cuts and were taken to the Ahli Hospital in Hebron for treatment. The injured journalists are:
1.Yosri Mahmoud Mousa El-Jamal (Reuters).
2.Ma’moun Ismail Wazouz (Reuters).
3.Naser Hussein El-Sheyoukhi (AP).
4.Hazem Bader (AFP).
5.Emad Amayra (Amal TV in Hebron).
6.Amer Abdeen (Pal-Media).
All except Yosri El-Jamal left the hospital after receiving first aid. El-Jamal stayed for 24 hours due to the injuries in his head, arms, and legs.
Two of the injured students were identified: Mohammad Jibril El-Darawish and Mohammad Ismail El-Wawi.
Security forces detained 10 students and released 2 of them after 3 hours. The students still detained are: Taher Asafra, Asem El-Ja’bari, Omar Abu Aqroub, Ghassan El-Riqbi, Tawfiq Mohammad Obeid, Mo’taz Mohammad Nawaj’a, Ibrahim Riziq El-Sharabna, and Ehab Shafiq El-Qawasma. The last four detainees are held by the Preventive Security Apparatus.
In light of these developments, PCHR:
1. Strongly condemns preventing the Student Council from organizing a student conference, and forcefully dispersing them by beating with sticks as well as other forms of violence and inhumane treatment.
2. Affirms people’s full and legitimate right to hold prayers in public areas and to organized non-violent demonstrations and marches as methods of expression and protest protected by the Palestinian Basic Law and International Human Rights Law, conditional to preserving the peaceful nature of these activities.
3. Strongly condemns attacks on journalists to prevent them from working freely, and calls for respecting journalists’ rights.
4. Calls upon the Palestinian government in Ramallah to immediately investigate these attacks, including the attack by Brig. Gen. Samih El-Seifi on journalist Yosri El-Hams, and prosecute their perpetrators, and to take serious actions to prevent their recurrence.
