Palestine: CFWIJ condemns the physical assault and racial abuse faced by journalist Nisreen Salem

/

October 21, 2021, Jerusalem - Journalist Nisreen Salem was physically assaulted and racially abused by officers of the Israel Defense Force while at a check post. In a video published by a local news platform, Nisreen recounts the violence she faced at the hands of the officials. The overreaches by the Israeli armed forces has received global attention and condemnation recently, and the recent attack appears to be an addition to the patterns of state violence Israel has routinely exhibited towards Palestinian citizens.

On October 20, Palestinian news platform, Quds News Network shared a video on twitter where Nisreen Salem came forth about the abuse she faced at the hands of the an amred Israeli official. She shared that while on a check post, she was beaten up and moved to an unknown vehicle without any clear indication of what brought about this treatment. Once in custody, Nisreen was abused in relation with her skin colour. The officer reportedly called her a “slave” and also used the n-term while addressing her.

Nisreen was subsequently released, which indicates that the incident was only a means to harass the journalist. There has been no response from Israeli authorities regarding the incident and the constant unaccountability of the Israeli armed forces with regards to their treatment of Palestinian journalists has become a recurring pattern in the region.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled at the incident and demands an immediate apology from the Israel Defense Force. The officer responsible for this behaviour should be immediately held to account. The State of Israel should self-reflect on the kind of behaviour and bigotry their state policies are enabling. For a society that claims to be a democracy, this kind of behaviour is not only unacceptable, it is criminal. In order to ensure peace in the region, the Israeli state needs to urgently halt these violent tactics that they regularly subject Palestinian citizens too. The international community should thus pay attention to what is being enabled in the region, in order to ensure continued peace.