Reporters Without Borders Condemns Hamas for Torture of Gaza Journalist

Palestinian journalist Ayman al-Aloul. (AP/Adel Hana)

A media rights group cited Hamas for their censorship and abuse of reporters operating in Gaza who dare to reveal the truth about Hamas tyranny and manipulation of Palestinian lives there.

Reporters Without Borders, a Media rights group, condemned the Hamas terror organization after a Palestinian journalist reported mistreatment while held in detention in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported Saturday.

Palestinian journalist Ayman al-Alul was detained on January 3 and released eight days later after being accused by Hamas of “disturbing public order and manipulating public opinion.”

A well-known journalist with an active following on social media, al-Alul reportedly announced that he would no longer cover dismal living conditions or political developments in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after receiving harsh treatment in jail, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The media rights group said that al-Alul was “tortured” during his detention, a “clearly traumatic experience” that has reportedly led to self-censorship by the journalist.

In an interview with international news agencies on Wednesday, al-Alul descrined the various forms of torture he was subjected to, adding that the reason for his detention was “to remove criticism of the government in Gaza.”

Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Christophe Deloire, discussing al-Alul’s arrest, said: “Hamas is trying to intimidate journalists by attacking a well-known Palestinian media figure.”

“As living conditions in the Gaza Strip are disastrous, Hamas wants to silence critics and does not hesitate to torture a journalist in order to control media coverage in its territory,” Deloire said.

Palestinian journalists are also censored by the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Last week, PA security forces detained and released Palestinian Salim Sweidan following a report the journalist published that accused the PA of assisting Israel in detaining Palestinian locals.

Sweidan’s detention came weeks after PA security forces reportedly assaulted journalists in the Ramallah area, preventing them from covering clashes that had broken out between the forces and protesters.

The Palestinian Center for Developments and Media Freedoms (MADA) reported in June that violations by Palestinian security forces in 2014 had reached their highest since 2008.

By: United with Israel Staff

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