Press Release

 

Regrettable Events in the Islamic University in Gaza following Publication of Article in Student Newspaper

 

 Date: 25 November 1999

Ref: 121/99

 

In a press release distributed on Wednesday the teaching staff in the Department of Journalism of the Islamic University, announced their collective resignation over the University Administrations decision to suspend the Head of Department Dr Juwaad El Daloo and two female students from the department.

 

The University Administration decided yesterday to suspend Dr El Daloo and the two students and to halt the study in the University for an indefinite period. This decision followed regrettable events in which dozens of people entered the University Campus by force and beat a number of the students and staff in the Department of Journalism.

Events exploded after the University Voice newspaper which is published by the Department of Journalism published, on 23 November 1999, a journalistic investigation into the phenomenon of begging in the Gaza Strip. The investigation was carried out by two female students from the Department of Journalism. It presented the point of view of many officials and experts on the subject and included a quote by a citizen from the north Gaza governate who claimed that the social norms and rituals in one of the areas of the governate encouraged the practice of begging. This quote angered a number of the University students from the mentioned area and a sharp discussion between them and the students of the Department of Journalism took place.

Accordingly the University Administration withdrew the edition of the newspaper in question. The next day, Wednesday 24 November 1999, according to eye-witness reports, dozens of young men including a number of university students forcibly entered the campus and beat a number of journalism students, causing several injuries. After discussion with respected people in the area the University Administration decided to form a committee of inquiry and to halt study at the University for an indefinite period. Moreover the Head of the Department of Journalism and the two female students who prepared the investigation were suspended.

PCHR is deeply concerned at the violence which took place on the University Campus and at this violation of the right to education and freedom of expression. PCHR condemns the attempt of some people to take the law into their own hands, without using the appropriate legal channels to mediate disputes. PCHR believes that one of the basic requirements for enhancing and supporting the rule of law is to refer all disputes to the appropriate legal channels. Furthermore the judicial system is the only institution mandated to decide the proper way to both protect the right freedom of expression and to investigate allegations of defamation.