Mohammed Omer (journalist): Difference between revisions
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While traveling back to the [[Gaza Strip]] via the [[West Bank]], Omer reported that he was stripped to his underwear, humiliated and beaten by Israeli soldiers while traveling into the West Bank from Jordan. He was subsequently hospitalized upon his return to Gaza, where it was discovered that Omer had sustained several broken ribs and various bodily contusions as a result of the ordeal.<ref>Mel Frykberg, [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43005 Israelis Assault Award Winning IPS Journalist], Inter Press Service, 28 June 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-palestinians-israel-journalist.html Gaza Reporter Says Mistreated By Israel], The New York Times, 30 June 2008</ref> This diagnosis, was however disputed by Dr. Diaa Husseini who examined Omer at the Hospital, according to whom Omer showed no signs of physical injury. He said Omer had suffered a [[nervous breakdown]] brought on by emotional stress and was given stomach medication and released after two hours. Similarly, the Israeli paramedic who attended to Omer found no physical reason for his collapse<ref>[http://www.wtop.com/?nid=500&sid=1438125 Associated press report], accessed 17th July 2008</ref>. The government of [[The Netherlands]] lodged an official protest with Israel about Omer's mistreatment.<ref>[http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5852011/Netherlands-protests-treatment-of-journalist Netherlands protests treatment of journalist], Radio Netherlands, 27 June 2008</ref> Israel's Government Press Office said in a statement that Omer was never subjected to physical or mental abuse. It said his account was full of contradictions and was "without foundation."<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/10/news/Israel-Gaza-Journalist.php Gaza reporter alleges was mistreated by Israel], Associated Press, 10 July 2008</ref> An Israeli spokesman told the Reuters news agency that Mr Omer received "fair treatment" during his detention at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan. He said officials carried out the body search because they suspected the journalist of smuggling. While denying beating and humiliating Omer, the Israeli official said that the journalist "lost his balance and fell, for some reason unknown to us". <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7483801.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel denies injuring reporter<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
While traveling back to the [[Gaza Strip]] via the [[West Bank]], Omer reported that he was stripped to his underwear, humiliated and beaten by Israeli soldiers while traveling into the West Bank from Jordan. He was subsequently hospitalized upon his return to Gaza, where it was discovered that Omer had sustained several broken ribs and various bodily contusions as a result of the ordeal.<ref>Mel Frykberg, [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43005 Israelis Assault Award Winning IPS Journalist], Inter Press Service, 28 June 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-palestinians-israel-journalist.html Gaza Reporter Says Mistreated By Israel], The New York Times, 30 June 2008</ref> This diagnosis, was however disputed by Dr. Diaa Husseini who examined Omer at the Hospital, according to whom Omer showed no signs of physical injury. He said Omer had suffered a [[nervous breakdown]] brought on by emotional stress and was given stomach medication and released after two hours. Similarly, the Israeli paramedic who attended to Omer found no physical reason for his collapse<ref>[http://www.wtop.com/?nid=500&sid=1438125 Associated press report], accessed 17th July 2008</ref>. The government of [[The Netherlands]] lodged an official protest with Israel about Omer's mistreatment.<ref>[http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5852011/Netherlands-protests-treatment-of-journalist Netherlands protests treatment of journalist], Radio Netherlands, 27 June 2008</ref> Israel's Government Press Office said in a statement that Omer was never subjected to physical or mental abuse. It said his account was full of contradictions and was "without foundation."<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/10/news/Israel-Gaza-Journalist.php Gaza reporter alleges was mistreated by Israel], Associated Press, 10 July 2008</ref> An Israeli spokesman told the Reuters news agency that Mr Omer received "fair treatment" during his detention at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan. He said officials carried out the body search because they suspected the journalist of smuggling. While denying beating and humiliating Omer, the Israeli official said that the journalist "lost his balance and fell, for some reason unknown to us". <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7483801.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel denies injuring reporter<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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A 20-page United Nations report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, presented to the 63rd of the General Assembly, criticised the Israeli government for its treatment of journalists reporting in the Occupied Territories, and singled out this incident for examination. Richard Falk, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, says that the brutal assault occurred when the security services were frustrated at their inability to confiscate the money he'd been awarded.<ref>[http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9877.shtml UN report castigates Israeli abuse of journalists] The Electronic Intifada, 6 October 2008. Verified 18th Oct 2008.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 16:03, 18 October 2008
Mohammed Omer (31 May 1984, in Rafah, the Gaza Strip) is a Palestinian journalist. Omer has reported for numerous media outlets, including the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Pacifica Radio, Electronic Intifada, The Nation, and Inter Press Service; he also founded the Rafah Today blog.
In 2006, the Vermont Guardian reported that Omer, then 22 years old, "was born and raised in the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border. The oldest of eight children, Mohammed began working to support his family at age six when his father was in an Israeli prison. In time, he landed a job at a backpack factory and since then has built an impressive resume as a translator, journalist, and program coordinator."[1]
Border Incident
In 2008, Omer was awarded the 2007 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. In the award citation, Omer was honored as "the voice of the voiceless" and his reports were described as a "humane record of the injustice imposed on a community forgotten by much of the world."[2]
While traveling back to the Gaza Strip via the West Bank, Omer reported that he was stripped to his underwear, humiliated and beaten by Israeli soldiers while traveling into the West Bank from Jordan. He was subsequently hospitalized upon his return to Gaza, where it was discovered that Omer had sustained several broken ribs and various bodily contusions as a result of the ordeal.[3][4] This diagnosis, was however disputed by Dr. Diaa Husseini who examined Omer at the Hospital, according to whom Omer showed no signs of physical injury. He said Omer had suffered a nervous breakdown brought on by emotional stress and was given stomach medication and released after two hours. Similarly, the Israeli paramedic who attended to Omer found no physical reason for his collapse[5]. The government of The Netherlands lodged an official protest with Israel about Omer's mistreatment.[6] Israel's Government Press Office said in a statement that Omer was never subjected to physical or mental abuse. It said his account was full of contradictions and was "without foundation."[7] An Israeli spokesman told the Reuters news agency that Mr Omer received "fair treatment" during his detention at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan. He said officials carried out the body search because they suspected the journalist of smuggling. While denying beating and humiliating Omer, the Israeli official said that the journalist "lost his balance and fell, for some reason unknown to us". [8]
References
- ^ Christian Avard, "Gaza journalist Mohammed Omer: His life and words", Vermont Guardian, 8 December, 2006
- ^ "Reporters share Gellhorn prize", The Guardian, 19 May, 2008
- ^ Mel Frykberg, Israelis Assault Award Winning IPS Journalist, Inter Press Service, 28 June 2008
- ^ Gaza Reporter Says Mistreated By Israel, The New York Times, 30 June 2008
- ^ Associated press report, accessed 17th July 2008
- ^ Netherlands protests treatment of journalist, Radio Netherlands, 27 June 2008
- ^ Gaza reporter alleges was mistreated by Israel, Associated Press, 10 July 2008
- ^ BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel denies injuring reporter