(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the assault on Saifeddine Chahine, a correspondent in Gaza for the Dubai-based Arabic satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. The 8 January 2004 attack appears to be linked to his coverage of President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, the organisation said. Five hooded and armed men attacked Chahine as he was driving to […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the assault on Saifeddine Chahine, a correspondent in Gaza for the Dubai-based Arabic satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. The 8 January 2004 attack appears to be linked to his coverage of President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, the organisation said.
Five hooded and armed men attacked Chahine as he was driving to his Gaza City office. During the attack, which lasted about 10 minutes, he was beaten and his assailants fired shots in the air. One of his attackers, who identified himself as a Fatah member, said he would “teach [him] a lesson in journalism.” Chahine is being treated for multiple injuries in a Gaza hospital.
A Fatah leader later denied any involvement in the attack. However, RSF believes the incident could be linked to Chahine’s coverage of celebrations marking the anniversary of Fatah’s founding.
RSF called on organisations and political factions in areas under the Palestinian Authority’s control to respect the media’s editorial independence. The organisation also urged the Palestinian Authority to carry out a full investigation promptly, and to ensure that the instigators of the attack on Chahine are punished. Failing this, RSF fears an increase in such reprisals towards Palestinian and foreign journalists.
This was the second attack on the satellite news channel in less than five months. Reached by telephone in Dubai, Al-Arabiya management also called for the immediate opening of an investigation and for punishment of those responsible for the attack.
In September 2003, Al-Arabiya’s Ramallah offices were raided by a group of armed men describing themselves as members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (see IFEX alert of 15 September 2003). They threatened journalists at the scene and ordered them to leave town. Arafat condemned the incident and promised the news channel that the attack would be fully investigated.
