Cartoonists Osama Nazzal, Marwa Alhelo and Mohammad Saba’aneh
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists, has accused a scurrilous website group of promoting the assault of journalists by posting the unfounded claim that 24 named Palestinians — including 15 journalists and bloggers — are supporters of terrorism.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate statement reads: “We are deeply concerned for what has been published in the [European Institute Against Incitement] website, especially against well-known journalists and members of the syndicate working for renowned Palestinian, Arab, and foreign media agencies and outlets.”
The European Institute Against Incitement claims on its site that its pupose is to name terrorists. The institute does not indicate the resources or research methodolgy it uses in compiling those names. Nor does the institute list an office address, a phone number, or the name of a director, or founder, or the name of any member at all, and it does not indicate how it is funded.
Under the names of the 24 Palestinians it has compiled, the European Institute Against Incitement does not list any purported offences — but it lists the name of the individual’s spouse, the number of children they have, where they live, their phone numbers and social media addresses, and the names of the members of their extended families.
Three political cartoonists are on the list — Osama Nazzal, Marwa Alhelo, and Cartoonists Rights Network regional representative Mohammad Saba’aneh, who has been recognized internationally for his cartoons against terrorism.
The following letter has been sent to the website by CRNI Director Dr. Robert “Bro” Russell:
We strongly object to the Incitement website’s incorrect characterization of Palestinian cartoonist Mohammad Saba’aneh as someone who could possibly support terrorist actions. His life has been a testament to fairness and well-balanced opinions in his cartoons.
We further condemn the website’s use of the cartoon journalist’s address, phone number and other information which could prove possibly deadly, the information being used by those who may want to do him harm.
This is the lowest level of journalism ethics — actually, an absence of journalistic ethics.
We call on the Incitement website to immediately correct this mischaracterization and stop providing personal information about its subjects that could in fact encourage terrorist acts.
Robert Russell
Executive Director, Cartoonists Rights Network International
