The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), with the backing of its
affiliate in Israel,
today called for a special inquiry into the killing of a journalist and
injuries to others during the Israeli assault on a flotilla of ships carrying
humanitarian aid which took place on June 1.
"We
now know that one journalist died and at least one other is seriously injured in
horrifying circumstances that remain unexplained," said Aidan
White, IFJ General Secretary. "We are also gathering
information about the treatment of journalists and the confiscation of their
material, all of which raises new concerns about the violations of their
rights."
The
IFJ says that a specific inquiry into the treatment of journalists is required
because around 100 of the people detained by the Israeli authorities were
thought to be journalists from across the globe including Australia, Algeria, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, the UK, Italy, Iran, Germany, South Africa, Indonesia,
Malaysia ,Pakistan and UAE.
The media victims are Turkish journalist Cevdet K?l?çlar, killed by a shot in the head, and Indonesian cameraman Sura Fachrizaz who was shot in the chest and seriously injured. Fachrizaz is in a hospital in Haifa and his injuries are not considered life threatening.
The
IFJ is in touch with reporters involved as well as a number of unions
representing media staff and is compiling information on material that has been
confiscated by the Israeli authorities.
Marcello
Faraggi, a journalist who was on board the Mediterranean
Sea, a cargo ship which was part of the aid convoy and was later
detained in the Israeli prison of Bersheva, told the IFJ that journalists were
subjected to body search and stripped of their equipment during their
detention.
A special information collection point has been established to prepare a dossier
on the incident which will form the basis of journalists' claims for
compensation in the aftermath.
The
IFJ affiliate in Israel,
the National Federation of Israel Journalists (NFIJ), which has been assisting
journalists and gathering information, should also be involved in any inquiry
into the treatment of journalists, says the IFJ.
The NFIJ section in Jerusalem, the Journalists Association in Jerusalem, has
specifically urged the Israeli government to give back immediately all the
equipment that was confiscated from the journalists on the boats. "Journalists
on duty should be left out of any confrontation and should have the full
freedom to cover the events in a professional way," they said in a
statement.
Further concerns have
been raised about the broadcasting by Israeli authorities of material
confiscated from journalists which is being used to project their version of
events.
"This is shocking
disregard for the rights of journalists," said White. The confiscation and then
unauthorized use of journalists' footage shows the contempt that the Israeli
authorities have for journalism."
For more information contact the IFJ
at +32 2 235 22 07
For information on individual cases,
please contact the National Federation of Israeli Journalists-NFIJ (Danny
Zaken) at +972-52-2631530 (cell) or [email protected])
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists
in 125 countries worldwide