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Alert

Two journalists freed after being held for a year

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn of the release of two Palestinian journalists on 13 September 2009. One was Mohammed Al-Qeeq, who was held by the Israeli security forces for more than a year. The Israelis had indicated that he was arrested for political reasons but never explained them.

Qeeq was previously arrested by the Israeli authorities on 11 March 2008 for covering a protest staged by Palestinian NGOs against an Israeli decision to close several charitable organisations in the West Bank city of Hebron.

The other Palestinian journalist freed on 13 September was Ayad Srour, who was released by the Palestinian Authority's intelligence services. Affiliated to the Yafa Media Centre in Hebron, Srour was arrested on 14 October 2008 by agents who searched his office and confiscated three computers, his family said.

Three other Palestinian journalists are still being detained. They are Farid Hamad, the editor of the newspaper "Al Ayyam", who has been held for 14 months, Mustapha Sabri of Filastine, who was arrested on 21 April 2009, and Al Aqsa cameraman Oussid Amarena, who has been held for five months.