Hamas laat Britse journalist Paul Martin vrij

 

 

Hamas heeft na een maand de Britse journalist Paul Martin vrijgelaten. Als reden voor zijn arrestatie noemt Mahmoud Al Zahar het volgende:

 

Zahar suggested Thursday that Martin's activities as a journalist brought about his arrest. The Hamas leader alleged that Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels," Zahar said, referring to hundreds of border tunnels that bypass the blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt.

The tunnels bring in commercial goods, but are widely believed to be a conduit for cash and weapons as well. Zahar complained that Martin was also working on a story about the alleged use of civilians as human shields by Hamas. The Hamas leader also alleged Martin was in touch with Gazans suspected of collaborating with Israel.

 

Met andere woorden, een journalist mag niet kritisch zijn tegenover Hamas en onafhankelijk te werk gaan. Hij mag niet praten met mensen die het regime onwelgevallig zijn, hij mag niet onderzoeken of Hamas dingen doet die niet door de beugel kunnen, hij mag niet eens schrijven wat iedereen wel weet: dat er wapens door de tunnels worden gesmokkeld.

Desondanks schetsen NRC Handelsblad en vredesorganisaties een beeld als dat Hamas gematigd en pragmatisch is geworden en geen islamitisch bewind voert. Over de onvrijheid op velerlei gebied en het gebrek aan onafhankelijke media, rechters en anderen, lees je zelden iets in de gewone media. Om dezelfde reden kon de commissie Goldstone zijn werk niet naar behoren doen in Gaza en konden Palestijnen niet vrijuit spreken tegenover hen, maar dat is slechts door het Palestijnse Ma'an nieuws opgemerkt; de westerse media negeerden dat geheel.

 

RP

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British Journalist Paul Martin released by Hamas

Rumor has it that Martin is Jewish, which complicated the issue and raised fears for his life.

 

British Journalist Released From Hamas Custody
British journalist Paul Martin released after month in Hamas lockup, leaves Gaza
By RIZEK ABDEL JAWAD Associated Press Writer
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip March 11, 2010 (AP)
The Associated Press

 

Gaza's Hamas rulers on Thursday released a British journalist held for a month amid allegations he had endangered the territory's security.

 

A smiling Paul Martin was dropped off by Hamas guards near a Gaza crossing into Israel. He was handed over to British diplomats who escorted him out of the territory.

 

Martin, a freelance journalist, was the first foreigner to have been arrested since Hamas overran Gaza in 2007.

 

His detention raised concern among international organizations with staff in the territory that Hamas was adopting a more confrontational approach, after initially going out of its way to avoid friction with foreigners.

 

Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, said Martin was suspected of serious security offenses and would not be able to return to Gaza. No charges were filed against him.

 

Zahar suggested Thursday that Martin's activities as a journalist brought about his arrest.

 

The Hamas leader alleged that Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels," Zahar said, referring to hundreds of border tunnels that bypass the blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt.

 

The tunnels bring in commercial goods, but are widely believed to be a conduit for cash and weapons as well.

 

Zahar complained that Martin was also working on a story about the alleged use of civilians as human shields by Hamas.

 

The Hamas leader also alleged Martin was in touch with Gazans suspected of collaborating with Israel.

 

Martin had entered Gaza on Feb. 14, intending to testify on behalf of a former Gaza militant who was on trial as an alleged informer for Israel. Instead of addressing the military court, Martin was taken into custody. Martin had been working on a documentary about the accused collaborator.

 

Martin has produced reports for the British Broadcasting Corp. and The Times of London.

 

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.