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17.08.2005.

IFJ Warns of  “Information Blackout” Following Kidnapping of France3 Media Staffer inGaza
The International Federationof Journalists today warned of a potential information blackout in theGaza Stripfollowing the kidnapping of amedia staffer working for France 3 Television.
Yesterday, 47-year-oldMohammad Wadohi, an Algerian Muslim with French citizenship, working as asoundman for the French public service channel3, was kidnapped near his hotel inGazaCity.Three kidnappers armed with rifles threatened Ouathi,pulled him into a white Subaru and drove away to an unknown destination.
“This abduction of a foreign media staffer is adangerous precedent during the on-going evacuation of Israeli colonies,” saidAidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “It points to a clear and present questionof safety for all journalists attempting to report independently on this majorpolitical breakthrough”.
The kidnapping of foreign staff, journalists, UNhumanitarian aid workers and other internationals by armed people has developedas a growing phenomenon in the last two months inGaza. According to the Al-Mezan Human RightsCenter there have been up to 21 foreigners taken hostage since July this year.
The IFJ affiliate, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate(PJS) denounced the kidnapping and called on the kidnappers to release himimmediately. The PJS condemned the hostage-taking as a “cowardly andirresponsible act”.
“With some 700 foreign journalists inGazaCityto cover Palestinian preparations forthe disengagement, a double-edged sword is now pointed at all media working inthe region,” said White. “Both Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement forlocal journalists and the potential for increased targeting of foreign reporterspave the way for a blackout in the strip”.
Earlier this month, gunmen abducted five foreign UnitedNations workers in two separate incidents in the Gaza Strip and last year,gunmen kidnapped Riad Ali, an Israeli-Arab producer for CNN. All were freedunharmed within hours.

Povratak