UN urges press freedom amid arrest of Al Mayadeen’s Nasser Al-Lahham
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UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric urged clarity on the arrest of Al Mayadeen’s Nasser Al-Lahham and stressed the need to protect press freedom in Gaza and the West Bank.
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In this June 20, 2017, file photo, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric fields questions for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his first press conference with U.N. correspondents, on World Refugee Day (AP)
The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, called for clarity surrounding the arrest of Al Mayadeen’s bureau chief in occupied Palestine, Nasser Al-Lahham, emphasizing the necessity of allowing journalists to operate freely, without fear of imprisonment or any form of intimidation.
His remarks came during a press conference in response to Al Mayadeen’s inquiry about whether UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been urging the release of detained media personnel, including Al-Lahham.
Dujarric expressed serious concern regarding the situation of journalists in occupied Palestine, stating: “Not only is there a shortage of journalists in Gaza, but there has also been harassment against journalists in both Gaza and the West Bank throughout the conflict in general.”
The Israeli military court at Ofer has extended the detention of Al-Lahham until next Sunday to allow for "continued interrogation," according to a joint statement by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS).
Al Mayadeen demands clear UN position
Al Mayadeen had previously submitted an official letter to the UN spokesperson on the day of Al-Lahham’s arrest, urging the United Nations to take a clear position on the arbitrary and unjustified detention. No formal response was received.
During the most recent press briefing, Al Mayadeen reiterated its demand for a concrete stance, especially in light of the ongoing targeting of Palestinian media professionals.
Hundreds of Palestinian journalists have been killed or detained by Israeli authorities during the ongoing war in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite this alarming toll, the UN response remained general, urging an end to the harassment of journalists and calling for their right to work freely to be respected.
More journalists and media workers have been murdered in the besieged Gaza Strip since October 2023, when "Israel" began its continuing genocidal assault there, than in both World Wars and other major conflicts combined, according to a recent report, titled "News Graveyards: How Dangers to War Reporters Endanger the World," published by Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.
Read more: Wartime journalism: The choices we make and the price we pay
