Al Mezan Center for Human Rights views with concern the decision of the Ministry of Information in Gaza in which it prohibited broadcasting the Red Line TV program, which was scheduled for yesterday, 1 August 2007.
Red Line is prepared and presented by the experienced Palestinian journalist Mr.
Hassan El Kashif.
In yesterday's episode, the program was to host lawyer Jamil Serhan from Al Mezan Center, independent lawyer Younis El Jarou, and Mr.
Khalil Abu Shamaleh, the Director of Al Dameer Association for Human Rights in Gaza.
The focus of the banned program was the current human rights situation in the Gaza Strip.
According to information available to Al Mezan, Ramattan News Agency, which was to host the program, received an official letter from the Ministry of Information in Gaza instructing it to cancel the broadcast of the program.
The letter states that "the Red Line program is prepared from Gaza for the official Palestine TV.
The status of the TV is subject to current political situation and will determined later in the course of the arrangement of the Palestinian internal system on national foundations, and in accord with the Palestinian Press Law of the year 1995.
" The letter continues to state that "We (the Ministry) hope you (Ramattan) will take the appropriate procedures and will understand".
It adds that "(the Ministry) asserts Ramattan's freedom to pursue its private work without any infringement of the Government's authority".
Al Mezan condemns this decision which represents an unnecessary limitation on the freedom of expression and a violation of the essential right to receive and exchange information as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights.
The decision is a breach of Palestinian law, which places a clear obligation on the PNA to respect and protect the freedom of expression, as provided by the Palestinian Basic Law and the Palestinian Press law.
Al Mezan asserts that the responsibilities and authorities of the Ministry of Information should be determined by legal rather than political considerations.
Al Mezan calls the Ministry to revoke its decision and lift the ban on broadcasting the Red Line program.
It calls also for the protection of the freedom the media and journalism in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The authorities must respect the role of the media and promote its professional and moral roles.
END