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Alert

MADA condemns detention of journalist

(MADA/IFEX) - The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns the detention of the Kuwaiti Wisal channel producer Ziad Ismail Awad by the Palestinian Internal Security forces in the Gaza Strip. Awad said that members of the Internal Security forces came to his home at 8:00 a.m. on 13 December 2009 and took him to their headquarters in Deir al-Balah.

Awad, who also works as the office director for the Fateh Parliamentary Bloc in the central region (Gaza Strip), said that he was questioned about his relationship with the Wisal channel, where he prepared a program showing the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and also about his relationship with the Palestinian Legislative Council. He was questioned for less than 15 minutes, but was not released until 11:00 p.m. Awad said, "I was not tortured, but they treated me roughly, and did not give me food. They asked me to give them my computer, but I told them to 'go and get it via the prosecution.'"

MADA renews its call for all types of attacks on media freedom and journalists to be halted and demands that the authorities allow media personnel to carry out their work freely and without harassment.