IFJ Demands Release of Detained Palestinian Journalist Leader

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the arrest on Saturday, April 23, of Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal, member of the board of IFJ affiliate, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), when he attempted to make the bridge crossing into Jordan near to the town of al-Karameh. According to the PJS, Nazzal’s mobile phone was confiscated and he was allowed only one call to his wife during which he told her that he was taken to the Etzion interrogation center. Nazzal was on his way to Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina, to attend the General Meeting of the European Federation of Journalists taking place on 25-26 April as part a PJS delegation invited to participate.

Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal who was arrested by Israel authorities on April 23. The signs in Arabic, from an earlier protest, read “No to the arrest of journalists.”

Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal who was arrested by Israel authorities on April 23. The signs in Arabic, from an earlier protest, read “No to the arrest of journalists.” (Photo: Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate)

IFJ president Jim Boumelha wrote to Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to demand that Nazzal be released immediately and be allowed to travel to Sarajevo to attend the general meeting. “It was shocking to hear that a participant to a congress for journalists from all over Europe has been arrested by the Israeli authorities on his way to attend and is being detained in the Etzion prison without any reasons being given,” said Boumelha. “The 100 delegates representing over 320,000 journalists in 51 unions from all over Europe demand that their colleague be released forthwith.”

The PJS issued a statement about the arrest which it said “clearly reveals the level of targeting and persecution of journalists and their union by the Israeli authorities.” Palestinian journalists gathered in Ramallah on Sunday, April 24, at the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross to demand Nazzal’s release and an end to the persecution of journalists.

Related: