CAABU condemns Israeli treatment of Mohammed Omer

CAABU condemns Israel's treatment of Palestinian journalist, Mohammed Omer

CAABU condemns the appalling treatment of the Palestinian journalist and joint winner of the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, Mohammed Omer. On returning from a tour of Europe, that included three days in London, he was detained by Israeli security forces at Allenby Bridge. Here he was interrogated and subsequently beaten up for over four hours. He lost consciousness and was hospitalised. He has now returned to the Gaza Strip, and is in hospital where he is being treated, not least for broken ribs. CAABU calls on the Israeli government to launch an immediate independent inquiry into this outrage and to ensure that Mohammed Omer is fully compensated for what happened.

CAABU was delighted to have been involved in helping arrange the programme for the visit of the award winning Palestinian journalist from Rafah. He came to London to receive the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism from 16-18 June. CAABU helped arrange briefing sessions with politicians, academics, NGOs and other interested parties, where Mohammed gave an outstanding but harrowing presentation of life in Gaza. This included a great deal of personal accounts of the brutality of the Israeli armed forces, not least the killing of his brother, and the demolition of his family's home in Rafah.

CAABU Director, Chris Doyle, said, "Having had the pleasure of meeting Mohammed Omer extensively during his visit, I could not help but be impressed with his courage and integrity, and as an outstanding journalist who valued his political independence. To find that he has been targeted and abused in such a fashion is deeply disturbing and our thoughts go out to him as he recovers in hospital. However, the international community should no longer remain silent about Israel's treatment of journalists, which has over the years involved harassment, censorship, intimation and even killing at a level that it totally unacceptable."

See also UK Parliamentary Early Day Motion 1926

For more information see Haaretz article

About CAABU
The Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) promotes an enlightened and positive approach to Arab-British relations in Government, parliament, the media, education and amongst the wider public.

In the light of September 11th, crisis in the Middle East and the continuing conflict in palestine, CAABU's role is more important than ever.

CAABU is the oldest and largest organisation of its type in Europe having been set up in 1967. We strive hard to build on the historical, political and cultural links between the Arab world and Britain which are being eroded by misunderstanding and negative stereotyping.

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