Following the humiliating treatment that Al-Jazeera reporter, Najwan Simri Diab, received by the Shin Bet and the Government Press Office (GPO), being forced to strip ahead of participating on Jan 11's GPO Annual Cocktail Reception, I'lam has directed an urgent letter to the Oren Helman, the GPO Director, demanding clarification on the following points:
- Has the GPO instituted standard security search procedures for such events and what are they?
- Is it customary to separate Arab journalists from other journalists at GPO events?
- Does Najwan Simri Diab's treatment represent procedures particular to Al-Jazeera's staff and if yes, is this a consequence of past disagreements between the GPO and al-Jazeera?
- What measures will the GPO institute to ensure similar events do not occur in the future?
For background on and developments at the GPO and Foreign Press Office following the event, see these reports by Robert Mackey and Ha'aretz.
You may download I'lam's original Hebrew letter here. | .jpg)
