The group of journalists was assaulted by police personnel while they were covering a forcible evacuation of people from their homes.
(Maharat Foundation/IFEX) – On 26 June 2010, a group of journalists was insulted and beaten by internal security force personnel from the Chtoura police station in the Bekaa Valley. The officers also confiscated the journalists’ cameras and videotapes.
The incident took place when the journalists were covering the forcible evacuation of people from their homes in the Saadnayel area in compliance with a judicial order. Journalist Hassan Jarrah, a cameraman for the Al Jaded station, LBC cameraman Farouk Darwich and “Annahar” newspaper reporter Danielle Khayat were among those assaulted. The police actions also extended to several women who were beaten for refusing to comply with the evacuation order.
The Maharat Foundation highlights the need to ensure that the work of journalists is respected in situations of conflict, taking into account that the goal of their work is to provide coverage of news that is of interest to the public. As such, assaults on journalists that take place in the course of their work represent attacks on freedom of expression and the public as a whole.
The Maharat Foundation calls on the authorities to punish those responsible for the assault, particularly taking into account that it was perpetrated by individuals who are part of a security force that should protect and ensure the safety of citizens.
