Last Updated | 5:36 p.m. As my colleague David Kirkpatrick reports from Tunisia, the authoritarian president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, has fled the country after weeks of chaotic street protests that his security forces have been unable to stifle.
Angry Arab
On Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:59:17
Press release on the thwarting of examination and police assault.
We demand you to uphold the student movement against repress and deprivation of examination.
On being intercepted from examination and assaulted by the university guards, a number of Ain Shams University have engaged in a sit-in against the decision of “deprivation”, and the arbitrary measures the university is undertaking against the student movement activists.
Five students were restrained from examining, despite obtaining an adjudication from the court of law to rescind that decision. Afaq Eshtirakeya center declares its condemnation and denial of those repressive and arbitrary decisions and practices, the regime is applying, and thus announces its full furtherance of these students’ right of examination, expression, and organizing their movement.
It affirms, at the same time, that the repress practiced, and the deprivation of examining, along with physical assault are evident police and repressive practices, and that it will not stop the student movement nor silence their voice.
Hundreds of students of the Egyptian universities have already been attacked ; additional to tens who have been prevented from examining, as well as having had their right of expression and demonstration abolished. Thus we demand you to stand in solidarity with us against the arbitrariness and repress, practiced by the authority and the university against the students
Several reporters, one of them pregnant, were required to take off their underwear during security check ahead of Netanyahu speech; others, including Washington Post bureau chief, forced to remove trousers; Foreign Press Association: We will decline further invitations unless given assurances this will not recur
Earlier today, YNET reported how Israeli security services tried literally strip-searching a pregnant Al-Jazeera reporter, Najwan Simri Diab, ahead of a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Simri Diab, after she was already made to wait for half an hour and stripped to her underwear, the guards decided to go even further:
“After the [female] security guard checked my bra under my undershirt, she told me to take off the bra. I asked her why, but she insisted. Later her superior came over and supported her. I refused, but she said “Everyone took it off, and so will you.” I said, “I’m not taking it off and I’m not coming in,” and she said, “So you won’t come in.”
Simri-Diab said that the location where the strip search took place was far from out-of-bounds for male security detail.
“A spokesman from the office saw me and asked what was going on. When I told him, he said, “don’t be dramatic.” The girl told him I’m refusing to be searched. They put me aside for 20 minute and would not give me any of my things, checking every paper and document in my purse. Later they gave me back everything all messed up in a box.”
According to YnetNews,
The General Security Service stated in response, “All guests were subjected to a security check in accordance with the customary security procedures in such events.”
Well, turns out the GSS wasn’t lying – Simri Diab was far from the only one grossly humiliated by their staff; she shared her experience with many of the guests, including several other reporters and the Chief of the Washington Post bureaue in Jerusalem. The Foreign Press Association, representing all foreign media in Israel, put out the following statement, which we bring to you in full:
“The Foreign Press Association is outraged over the treatment members received at the hands of Israeli security personnel during Tuesday night’s invitation-only gathering with the prime minister. While we appreciate the need for security, it is not remotely acceptable to invite people for cocktails at a five-star hotel and then make them undress at the door.
Several members were forced to remove their underwear, waiting for as long as 20 minutes in this humiliating situation while security checked their documents. Others, including the bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, were strip-searched and forced to take off their pants. A number of members walked out of the event in disgust following this despicable treatment.
It is incomprehensible that anyone would think such humiliating treatment is necessary at such an event. All GPO card holders are known to authorities and have already undergone extensive background checks. All participants emptied their pockets, submitted their equipment to inspection and went through metal detectors to enter.
The Shin Bet has its responsibilities but it must also operate within reasonable parameters. In a democratic country security services are not permitted to do as they please. For a government trying to usher in a new era of relations with the foreign media, it is a peculiar way to start. We are confident the prime minister would not accept such abusive security checks for his friends or family.
We ask for assurances that this will not happen again or we will respectfully decline further invitations.”
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 11:48PM Gilad Atzmon
A few minutes ago, I came across a press release written by Left Israeli MK Nitzan Horowitz.
Horowitz, a member of Mertz Party, disclosed the new suggestions made by the McCarthyite Knesset Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Organizations.
According to Horowitz, the commission is now considering the following measures:
· New bills and regulations restricting the entry to Israel of anyone who may be affiliated with left activity. This may take place without the need for court.
· Putting an end to foreign citizens status, including parents who are married to Israelis
· Reducing drastically the rights of prisoners and detainees – along with new initiatives of minimum prison terms, increased enforcement, penalties and so forth
· Denial of Israeli citizenship from an increasing numbers of Israelis convicted of various offences
· Stripping Knesset members of their rights.
· Giving judicial powers to administrative proceedings; for example, the establishment of a clerical tribunal for foreigners
· Preventing the entry of Arab communities
· Seize funding to cultural institutions that are promoting ‘leftist materials’
· Eliminating tax exemption on donations to human rights organizations
· Cancellation of contracts with public bodies associated with human rights organizations.
· Allocated assigning posts for civil service volunteers to human right associations will be cancelled.
· Restricting access to the websites of human rights organizations and public institutions
· Preventing the entry of representatives of human rights organizations to educational institutions
I guess that the picture is clear.
Israel turns against itself. Its days are numbered.
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