BBC ignores the beating of Palestinian journalist they interviewed only days before
The BBC ignores the beating of Palestinian journalist they interviewed only days before
By Mary Rizzo • Jun 30th, 2008
LETTERS TO THE BBC BY DAVID HALPIN
To BBC News online
Dear Olivia,
My first message to you was on 06/28/2008 at 08:33 PM.
I see no report of the assault on this journalist on the BBC web site. Assuming you are on holiday, I am copying this to senior colleagues. To this lay person, there would appear to be several reasons to report that which Mohammed Omer has and is suffering.
1. The BBC were sufficiently interested to interview him on BBC World Service just before he left for France. I provided the contact number for that to happen.
2. It is true is it not that an unprecedented number of journalists have been killed in Iraq - at least 250? 9 have been killed in Gaza. The alleged barbaric treatment of this young journalist should be reported; the louder the silence, the greater the state impunity.
3. If this was Alan Johnston and not a Palestinian (albeit of great talent), the story would have been number one.
4. I ask what would have been reported by yourselves if the boot which trod on his throat had lead to his death. It has been a near thing and I have not had a report today. Would his dying from this assault by agents of Israel have been reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation?
5. His courage is exceptional - and our world needs that more than ever.
His own web site http://www.rafahtoday.org/
--MORE--
By Mary Rizzo • Jun 30th, 2008
LETTERS TO THE BBC BY DAVID HALPIN
To BBC News online
Dear Olivia,
My first message to you was on 06/28/2008 at 08:33 PM.
I see no report of the assault on this journalist on the BBC web site. Assuming you are on holiday, I am copying this to senior colleagues. To this lay person, there would appear to be several reasons to report that which Mohammed Omer has and is suffering.
1. The BBC were sufficiently interested to interview him on BBC World Service just before he left for France. I provided the contact number for that to happen.
2. It is true is it not that an unprecedented number of journalists have been killed in Iraq - at least 250? 9 have been killed in Gaza. The alleged barbaric treatment of this young journalist should be reported; the louder the silence, the greater the state impunity.
3. If this was Alan Johnston and not a Palestinian (albeit of great talent), the story would have been number one.
4. I ask what would have been reported by yourselves if the boot which trod on his throat had lead to his death. It has been a near thing and I have not had a report today. Would his dying from this assault by agents of Israel have been reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation?
5. His courage is exceptional - and our world needs that more than ever.
His own web site http://www.rafahtoday.org/
--MORE--