Two Al-Jazeera journalists hit while covering an anti-American demonstration

CNW Telbec via COMTEX ^ | 3-24-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

MONTREAL, Mar 24, 2003 (CNW Telbec via COMTEX) -- On 22 March, while covering a demonstration against the war in Iraq, Islam Salih, an "Al-Jazeera" journalist and MOHAMMED EL HASSAN, his cameraman, were hit by several policemen.

'We expressly call on the Khartoum authorities to allow the Sudanese and also the foreign press to freely cover demonstrations taking place in the capital. We are also concerned by the growing number of journalists being summoned for having'transgressed the limits', said Robert Menard, secretary- general of Reporters Without Borders.

On 22 March, Islam Salih, an "Al Jazeera" journalist and Mohammed el Hassan, his cameraman, were hit by several policemen while covering a student demonstration, near the American embassy, against the war in Iraq. Although Islam Salih told one of the policemen he was an "Al-Jazeera" journalist, they continued to hit them on the knees with truncheons. The cameraman finally managed to flee with his equipment. And the footage could be broadcast.

Also, on the same day, HAYDER AL MUKASHFI, a journalist at the daily Al- Ayyam, was interrogated by members of the security services. One of the officers told him that 'what he was writing 'transgressed the limits. For the time being, we are at the stage where we advise you to change what you have written' Hayder Al Mukashfi writes the 'Transparency' column.

[Genesis defender]

and MOHAMMED EL HASSAN, his cameraman,

That has to be the most typical-sounding Arabic name I've ever heard!

[baggadonuts]

If they thought that was bad, they should have come down to the Support Our Troops rally in NYC, it's likely they would have received a good ole "out behind the woodshed" a$$ kicking.

[dennisw]

Hahahaha

[MEG33]

Humor Break!

[Duke Nukum]

Gee, that's too bad.

[FreePaul]

It could be worse. They could have been in San Francisco and been hit on.

[Yardstick]

I work with a grad-student from Bangledesh named Mohammed Hassan (I dont' think he has the "El" in there). He's a Muslim of course, and he explained to me that most Muslim men have a the first name Mohammed or Achmed, which is followed by the name they are called by. Even for the called-by name, though, there is a fairly small pool of possibilities -- Hassan, which means "victory", is very common -- so they usually have an informal nickname, given to them as a child, by which they may be uniquely identified. BTW, I work with several of these Muslim Bangledeshi grad students, and they are without exception fine people.

[spunkets]

"they continued to hit them on the knees with truncheons. The cameraman finally managed to flee with his equipment."

Must not of hit 'em very hard.