[Media Caucus] Alert Update: Further Press Freedom Violations in Israel

[Heidi Paredes - I'lam]

Dear friends,

 

I hope you all arrived home safely from Tunis and had time to relax.

 

Unfortunately violations against press freedom, and freedom of expression
and information, against Arab journalists in Israel are intensifying. For
more information, please find attached the latest Media Alert regarding
investigations of Arab journalists by the General Security Services (GSS or
Shabak).

 

***

Urgent Media Alert

21 November 2005

 

I'lam & ACRI Send the Shabak a Request for an Immediate Stop to the Illegal
Interrogations of Arab Journalists 

 

Four journalists have been called in for interrogations by the General
Security Services (GSS or Shabak): Wael Awad, Ahmed Abu Hussein, Hassan
Mawasi, Marwan Athamni. The last of these four was called in some days ago.


 

All of the journalists have been asked questions relating to their
professional relationships. One of them, Ahmed Abu Hussein, was asked about
the relationship between arabs48.com, the website where he serves as the
head of the board, and Arab journalists located in other countries in the
region: who these journalists were, if they met together and how, the way in
which arabs48.com solicits articles, etc. 

 

Questions of this nature constitute attacks on freedom of expression,
freedom of the press and the freedom of journalists to do their work without
intimidation. This constitutes a very disturbing, ". attempt on the part of
the Shabak, to be involved in determining the content that the Arab reader
can, or cannot read, reminiscent of totalitarian and undemocratic regimes
who try to reformulate public consciousness through their control of media
and public messages" (From the joint letter from I'lam and ACRI to the
Attorney General of Israel). 

 

(For more information please find attached Media Alert)

 

Heidi Paredes

Development Director

I'lam, Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel

POB 101, 16000 Nazareth

Tel. +972-4-6001370, Fax. +972-4-6001418

www.ilamcenter.org 

 

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