Al-Jazeera Reporter Says Parliament Guards Beat him
The reporter of the Arabic satellite TV network al-Jazeera was beaten by parliamentary guards and thrown out of Nejmeh Square, al-Jazeera said Wednesday.
It said Journalist Ali Hashem was covering the parliamentary session in Beirut from a café where the statements of MPs were being shown on a television screen when a chief guard asked him to leave.
But when Hashem refused to do, he was beaten by the guards and kicked out of the area.
“It seems that the tense parliamentary session moved to the outside and reflected on us as journalists,” Hashem said.
“The words ‘respect yourself’ seem to be harsh for security personnel,” he added.
almost 13 years
If a reporter were to enter a security area in the Qatari parliament, British, Australian parliament or US Congress without the proper papers; would security let him in? Or treat him like they treated this guy who tried to disregard any sense of Lebanese Authority?
Lebanon is not a playground to anyone anymore and for the first time in my life I am proud of the ISF for asserting Lebanon's respect, institutions and authority of the state.
Perhaps those who have been in power from 1992-2010 used to prostitute themselves and the nation, but this ends now with this new Made in Lebanon Reformist Government.
almost 13 years
@BOB
hahahahahahaha... Yes that makes the new gvt quite admirable doesn't it....hahahahaha... Are you for real bob?? "Iam proud of ISF" for giving a beating to a journalist... pffff..... 3ayb aleik!
almost 13 years
@Bob
Please stay in "louxembourg" (u can't even spell it right) hahahaha...
almost 13 years
@thetraitor if a journalist were to try to force his way into a secure zone of the US Congress without proper papers, security would treat him the same if not worse.
It seems that you support those who wanted to prostitute Lebanon and make it a mad3asseh lal 3alam.
Fasharto
almost 13 years
@"Louxembourg Bob" You're an idiot.
almost 13 years
@ Louxembeurk
I support nothing and no one. You are intellectually challenged. That's all. ;)
almost 13 years
@Ali if you choose to be a doormat while every other nation on earth would have done the same to this journalist, this is your choice not mine.
@thedoormat you are nothing and no one ;-)
almost 13 years
Completely aligned with bob...instead of blindly blaming the ISF...check out first if they had proper papers to enter that seucrity zone...Lebanon will not be a playground for the media again....This wouldn't have been any different in any other country...including western or pro-iranian...
almost 13 years
One thing is sure you now need to have special authorization to sit in a cafe in Lebanon.
That is what we may call evolution as per saint hassan
almost 13 years
They could have simply escorted him out...no need for a beating, but this is the uncivilized Lebanese way of dealing with issues. The Lebanese security apparatus consists of thugs in uniform, remember that these are the 74-90 war militia men that were integrated into various Lebanese institutions. Our road to civility is a long and nearly impossible one.
almost 13 years
Good for him, he's been kissing berri's ass for years, now berri made him kiss his militias ass!!!
Typical behavior from ISF. They don't know what their mission is, their rights, their duties, they just receive a couple of orders and learn from observing others, and that probably includes beating up people when they encounter resistance and people who know their rights.