On Sunday 9 September 2007 the Palestinian security assaulted a group of journalists while they were covering a students' protest in Hebron, the West Bank.
This marks a further expansion of violence against journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
According to the information that Al Mezan received from the West Bank-Based human rights organization Al Haq, and one of the victims, the students council at Hebron University had called the students to assemble in a street opposite to the University.
The call came after the University refused to allow for the gathering to take place on its premises.
Students were protesting what they claimed discrimination in the scholarship schemes, which has denied many eligible students from benefiting from scholarship.
The students council had declared suspension of registration since 18 August 2007, and then called for the gathering to protest this situation.
Palestinian police and Presidential Security forces rushed to the place of the gathering and clashed with the protesting students.
Many journalists were at the scene covering the situation.
However, the security ordered them not to take pictures of footage.
After discussions between journalists and Colonel Samih As-Safti, who is the police chief in Hebron, journalists were told they could cover the events.
Nevertheless, once they started to photograph, the police and security personnel attacked them.
According to reports from the Wets Bank, many journalists were severely beaten.
This includes Reuters' cameraman Yusri Al-Jamal; AFP's cameramen Hazim Badr; (the local) Al Amal TV cameraman Emad Amaiyreh; Palmedia's cameraman Amer Abdeen.
The latter's camera was confiscated.
All of the journalists mentioned above were transferred to hospital for treatment.
Yusri Al Jamal was the only one to stay at the hospital for one day.
Al Mezan Center expresses its full solidarity and support for journalists in performing their profession with freedom in OPT.
The Center condemns the assaults on journalists by the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, and denying them their right to cover the events.
The Center has been highly disturbed by the frequent employment of violence and cruel treatment against journalists in OPT only because they are performing their legitimate profession.
Al Mezan believes that the issuance of orders to security forces to prohibit journalists' coverage is in itself unacceptable infringement on the freedom of expression and the media.
Al Mezan therefore calls for an immediate halt of all assaults on journalists in OPT.
The Center calls on the Palestinian National Authority to promptly investigate the situation at Hebron University and to bring the persons who ordered or committed violations against journalists to justice.
Al Mezan also reiterates its calls upon journalists and media personnel in OPT to show solidarity in order to defend their right to access and spread information freely in accordance with the Palestinian law and human rights standards.
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