In the wake of increasing violence against journalists who work to reveal developments in Jerusalem, I`lam Media Center sent an urgent letter to Commissioner of the Israeli Police, Dudi Cohen, with a copy to the Jerusalem Police Chief Aharon Franco, and Head of the Israeli Press Council, former judge Dalia Dorner, warning of the increasing violence by police against journalists working to cover recent events in Jerusalem.
I`lam demanded that Commissioner Cohen instruct the police to not attack journalists and reporters while they perform their duties, where over the past 6 months, there have been approximately 20 such assaults on journalists.
In most assault cases, the journalist or photographer was wearing a flak jacket marked "Press", indicating that the police knew that they were assaulting journalists but did so anyway.
I`lam Media Center noted that journalists have a moral commitment to society in disclosing to the public facts and to harm them in this case is not only a violation of the journalists rights but also a violation of fundamental rights of the public, such as the right of the public to know, and the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
I'lam cautioned the police that international humanitarian law addresses the protection of journalists as encoded in Article 79 of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which states, "Journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians within the meaning of Article 50, paragraph 1".
A photo of Journalist `Ataa `Oweisat in Jerusalem being accosted and threatened by police
You may download the full press release in Arabic here.
For more details, please get in touch with Kholod Massalha at Tel: 0509319961 or by email. | .jpg)
