I'lam denounces the humiliating search that Arab photojournalist 'Ataa 'Oweisat was subjected to on Tuesday, August 31 2010 at the home of President Shimon Peres, where he was present in professional capacity covering a meeting between the Education Minister, the President and Arab and Jewish children under the theme of opening channels of dialogue between the two populations ahead of the start of the new academic year.
'Oweisat was escorted away while covering the event, taken to a closed room, forced to remove his pants and shoes, under what the army claimed were new 'security procedures'. It is worth noting that 'Oweisat had previously been to the President's home to cover past events and is well known to the President's personal security staff.
The racial targeting of 'Oweisat because he is Arab is strongly denounced by I'lam. The attacks against 'Oweisat are ongoing. He has been targeted on multiple occasions, assaulted verbally and physically, while exercising his profession as photojournalist. Read the following news items (November 15 2009 and on March 21 2010) on attacks against him.
Read the full press release in Arabic.
Photo courtesy of Bokra. | .jpg)
