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Press freedom watchdog accuses Israeli police of harassing broadcaster | Media | theguardian.com
The International Press Institute (IPI) has criticised the Israeli authorities for raiding the studios of a Palestinian broadcaster.
Israeli security forces entered the east Jerusalem studios of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) last Friday and demanded that journalists presenting a segment on hunger-striking Palestinian detainees stop their live broadcast.
Two members of staff - director Nader Bebers and cameraman Ashraf Abu Shaweeshand - and a guest on the programme, Ala' al-Haddad, were arrested. After questioning, the three were later released.
"This type of police search represents serious harassment that greatly affects the ability of a media company to cover sensitive issues of public interest," said IPI's press freedom manager Barbara Trionfi.
According to a report in The Times of Israel, police believed the studio was broadcasting without the proper permits.
The trio were detained "in order to check the legality of the broadcast". They were released after showing that they had the necessary permits.
But AFP quoted an Israeli police spokeswoman, Luba Samri, as saying police carried out the searches "as part of an investigation into the content of its programmes."
IPI has also condemned a raid on 28 May by Israeli security forces on a Palestinian printing plant in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
The headquarters of the al-Ayyam newspaper began publishing three pro-Hamas newspapers earlier this month after a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, citing statements by Israeli officials, said the raid was carried out to prevent publication of newspapers that incite "hatred" of Israel.
The International Press Institute (IPI) has criticised the Israeli authorities for raiding the studios of a Palestinian broadcaster.
Israeli security forces entered the east Jerusalem studios of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) last Friday and demanded that journalists presenting a segment on hunger-striking Palestinian detainees stop their live broadcast.
Two members of staff - director Nader Bebers and cameraman Ashraf Abu Shaweeshand - and a guest on the programme, Ala' al-Haddad, were arrested. After questioning, the three were later released.
"This type of police search represents serious harassment that greatly affects the ability of a media company to cover sensitive issues of public interest," said IPI's press freedom manager Barbara Trionfi.
According to a report in The Times of Israel, police believed the studio was broadcasting without the proper permits.
The trio were detained "in order to check the legality of the broadcast". They were released after showing that they had the necessary permits.
But AFP quoted an Israeli police spokeswoman, Luba Samri, as saying police carried out the searches "as part of an investigation into the content of its programmes."
IPI has also condemned a raid on 28 May by Israeli security forces on a Palestinian printing plant in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
The headquarters of the al-Ayyam newspaper began publishing three pro-Hamas newspapers earlier this month after a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, citing statements by Israeli officials, said the raid was carried out to prevent publication of newspapers that incite "hatred" of Israel.
