ICSPR CONDEMNS THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT ISSUED AGAINST THE JOURNALIST HAGAR HARB

Press Release

ICSPR condemns the default judgment issued against the journalist Hagar Harb

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights ICSPR followed with deep concern the press release issued by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, on Wednesday, 13 September 2017, which declared according to a statement received by the journalist Hagar Harb, the court issued a default judgment right before about three months, and punishing her with actual imprisonment for six months and a fine of 1000 NIS. In the wake of publishing a survey on corruption and nepotism in giving the medical transfers to the citizens in Gaza Strip

This, the journalist Hagar Harb is currently abroad for treatment of cancer, she had been exposed to prosecution and investigation to the Public Prosecutor after publishing survey achieved in twenty fourth of last June, in accordance with the complaint by a doctor has been dealing with him, according to the report the doctor responsible for writing false medical reports to patients with financial bribes, where he lost his job due to this investigation, and accordingly, the public prosecution submitted five charges against the journalist Harb, which are: impersonation ( she did not introduce her real name during the preparation of the investigation) criticizing the Ministry of Health, the dissemination of inaccurate and incorrect information that could provoke a grudge against the Ministry of Health, not to comply with articles 25 and 26 of the press and publications law, and working with foreign authorities, through the preparation of a journalist investigation for “the Arab television channel” in London on the pretext that it is unrestricted in the government  media office.

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights ICSPR expresses its deep concern at the arbitrary judgment issued against the journalist Hagar Harb, and declares its solidarity with the journalist, emphasizing the need to launch the media freedoms and not restricting it, as well as ICSRP stressing that freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom of conducting investigations and surveys, and the right of a journalist not to disclose the sources are guaranteed under national and international law, ICSPR urges the judicial organ of the importance of respecting the freedom of the press and media, and freedom of opinion and expression, therefore; ICSPR demands the following:

ICSPR reaffirms its rejecting all the violations against the Palestinian human rights wherever they occur, due to the importance of the inviolability of the Palestinians’ rights under any pretext or justification
ICSPR considers that the default judgment issued by the local court in Gaza Strip against the journalist Hagar Harb constitutes a clear violation of freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of access to and dissemination of information.
ICSPR demands the local judiciary, the adoption of political, judicial proceedings based on the importance of the realization of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and judicial protection, though not sentence in cases of publication and freedom of opinion and expression, and to make more effort to monitor the actions of the executive authority and to ensure that Palestinian  exercise their human rights, in accordance with the requirements of modern legislative and judicial policies consistent with international conventions.