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PCHR - Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

PCHR Condemns Prevention of Journalists Shoblaq and Abu-Doghaim from Traveling by the Gaza Government

Dimanche, 4 novembre 2012 - 16h14

dimanche 4 novembre 2012

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Ref : 114/2012
Date : 04 November 2012

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the prevention of Majid Shoblaq, a reporter for al-Masrya Channel, and his wife journalist Hanan Abu-Doghaim, a program host at al-Iman Local Radio Station, from traveling via Rafah International Crossing Point to participate in a conference in Cairo, by the Government Media Office and the Crossing’s Security Services. PCHR calls upon the Gaza government and the Attorney General to end the use of such measures, and to respect press freedom, the freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of movement, rights which are ensured under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international standards.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Wednesday, 31 October 2012, journalists Majid Farouq Shoblaq and his wife, Hanan Youssif Abu-Doghaim, went to Rafah International Crossing Point on their way to travel to Egypt in order to participate in a conference titled "Future Vision of the Independent Arab Media and Civil Society Organizations," organized by the International Center for Information and Development, taking place on 03 and 04 November 2012, in Cairo.

Upon completing the travel procedures, an Internal Security Service officer asked Shoblaq to accompany him to the Crossing Point’s security office. In his testimony to a PCHR fieldworker, Majid Shoblaq, said, "I was interrogated by the Internal Security Service for approximately 45 minutes. I was asked about the nature of the conference and the participants’ selection mechanism. I was also questioned about my political affiliation. Later, they took me out to the waiting room. However, I was taken to interrogation again about the same issues for approximately 30 minutes. An Internal Security Service officer confiscated our passports, removed the traveling stamps and told us to obtain a permit from the Government Media Office in order to attend the conference.”

Journalist Doghaim also informed PCHR that she was under interrogation at the same time and about the same issues.

At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 01 November 2012, Shoblaq was summoned over the phone by an officer from the Government Media Office. In his testimony, Shoblaq states : “Immediately, I went to the Government Media Office and met the officer who called me and another person, who did not identify himself. The officer informed me that what had happened in the Crossing Point on Wednesday was a ‘misunderstanding’ and that I should have gone to the Office and have coordinated with them in relation to the conference. We talked about the conference’s nomination and selection mechanisms, and eventually, he told me that he has no objection to my traveling. However, when I asked him if I could travel he said ‘no,’ and that I should get a permit from the Director of the Office, Mr. Ihab al-Ghussain."

PCHR condemns the prevention of Journalists Shoblaq and Abu-Doghaim from traveling to participate in a conference, and :

1. Calls for providing protection to journalists and media, and taking necessary measures to allow them to work freely, respecting the right to freedom of opinion and press freedoms ;
2. Stresses that the right to freedom of opinion and expression and press freedoms are guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant human rights conventions ;
3. Calls upon the Palestinian security services to respect international human rights standards, the Palestinian Basic Law and other relevant laws.

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