(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the arrest of British journalist Peter Hounam. The “Sunday Times” reporter was arrested in Jerusalem on the evening of 26 May 2004 when plainclothes officers and members of the security services turned up at his hotel room. His arrest was confirmed by a spokesperson for the prime minister, but the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the arrest of British journalist Peter Hounam. The “Sunday Times” reporter was arrested in Jerusalem on the evening of 26 May 2004 when plainclothes officers and members of the security services turned up at his hotel room. His arrest was confirmed by a spokesperson for the prime minister, but the government and the Jerusalem District Court imposed a gag order on the case.
“We are perturbed by this arrest, which seems to have a direct link with Peter Hounam’s work on Mordechai Vanunu. The Israeli authorities seem prepared to go to any lengths to stifle news on the nuclear issue in Israel. This arrest and the blackout that followed it are serious violations of press freedom. We await your explanation,” RSF said.
Hounam had gone to Jerusalem to write an article about the 21 April release of Vanunu, a former nuclear technician. The 60-year-old journalist was preparing a documentary on Vanunu for the BBC. In 1986, Hounam wrote an article on Israeli nuclear secrets, based on Vanunu’s revelations.
Vanunu was sentenced to 18 years in prison for “treason” and “espionage” after the “Sunday Times” carried his revelations about Israeli nuclear arms. Under the terms of his release, he is banned from meeting with foreigners without prior authorisation or speaking to the media about his work at the Dimona nuclear plant.
