This week in press freedom
This is the latest installment of our new press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of August 25, 2024.
Israel continues targeting journalists
Israeli forces have killed at least four more journalists in Gaza over the course of the last two weeks. According to RSF, “Freelance reporter Ibrahim Muhareb was killed and his colleague Salma al-Qaddoumi was wounded when an Israeli tank deliberately fired on a group of identifiable journalists.” An Israeli airstrike on Nuseirat Camp has killed freelance journalist Sumaya Abd Rabbo and her brother, journalist Mohamed Abd Rabbo of Al-Manara Media, per the Coalition of Women in Press Freedom. In another incident, journalist Ali Taimeh was killed by an Israeli strike that targeted a civilian car near him while he was reporting on displaced people in Khan Younis.
Israel’s IDF has deliberately targeted journalists covering the Israeli incursion into the West Bank city of Jenin. The soldiers shot live bullets at journalists, chasing them with military bulldozers to prevent them from covering the attacks carried out by the Israeli army.
Israel has killed more than 160 journalists since the beginning of its assault on Gaza, while dozens of others have been injured or evacuated. Last month, Courage co-organized a coalition of more than 100 journalists to sign a letter to U.S. Sec. Antony Blinken, urging an immediate U.S. arms embargo on Israel.
Journalists arrested at DNC
At least three credentialed journalists were arrested while covering protests in downtown Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, on August 20th. According to RSF, their credentials were seized and not returned until lawyers acting on their behalf intervened. On August 21, the Chicago Police Department confirmed the journalists were charged with disorderly conduct and failure to obey police.
A crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech and reporting
A number of reporters and activists in the UK, among others independent journalists Richard Medhurst and Sarah Wilkinson, and Richard Barnard, co-founder of Palestinian Action, have been arrested and/or charged with violating section 12 of the Terrorism Act.
In Australia, the Zionist Federation of Australia has brought charges under s18c of the Racial Discrimination Act against journalist Mary Kostakidis for sharing tweets about Gaza. “The Australian Zionist Federation is weaponising Australian law in an attempt to curb criticism of Israel for its acts of genocide”, said Kostakidis in her statement.
60 organizations urge EU action against Israel’s attacks on press freedom
In an urgent appeal, 60 global press freedom and human rights organizations have called on the European Union to take decisive action against Israel for its escalating violations of media freedom and killing of journalists. In a letter addressed to EU leaders, the signatories urged the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the imposition of targeted sanctions on responsible Israeli officials.
Journalists and media stuff killed in Ukraine and Iraqi Kurdistan
A Russian strike on a hotel in Eastern Ukraine killed a media staffer and injured two journalists. “Ryan Evans is the 12th media worker killed in the line of duty in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion,” says RSF.
Two journalists from Chatr Media, Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, were killed, and their colleague journalist Rêbîn Bekir was injured on 23 August, when a suspected Turkish drone hit their car in the Said Sadiq district of Sulaymaniyah Province, northern Iraq.