(RSF/IFEX) – On 11 March 2004, members of a Koranic school assaulted three journalists who were filming a report on the school for the “90 Minutes” programme, which airs on the privately-owned television station Canal+. RSF strongly condemned the attack on soundman Jérôme Florenville, cameraman Jean-Yves Charpin and reporter Hervé Bouchaud. Paul Moreira, the programme’s […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 11 March 2004, members of a Koranic school assaulted three journalists who were filming a report on the school for the “90 Minutes” programme, which airs on the privately-owned television station Canal+. RSF strongly condemned the attack on soundman Jérôme Florenville, cameraman Jean-Yves Charpin and reporter Hervé Bouchaud.
Paul Moreira, the programme’s editor-in-chief, explained that four or five members of the Koranic school, which is located in a castle in Grisy-Suisnes, Seine-et-Marne, northern France, attacked the film crew as the journalists were filming the building from the street.
While the cameraman and journalist were only slightly injured, Florenville, who was struck with a pickaxe handle, required emergency hospital treatment for multiple fractures of the nose and facial bones. He is expected to be examined by specialists to determine if there was damage to his optical nerve or retina, in which case he could risk losing sight in one eye.
Moreira said the crew had been working on an investigation of the proselytising Muslim Tabligh movement for the past six months. The Koranic school had refused to cooperate with the report, which is expected to be broadcast in April.
Officers from the Coubert police station arrested five assailants. The journalists and Canal+ have each filed official complaints.
RSF said the assault on the three journalists, who were simply doing their job, was completely unacceptable. The organisation called for their assailants to be severely punished as an example to those who feel they can attack journalists with impunity to stop them from reporting on sensitive issues.
