Foreign journalists on Friday spoke of their distress after being asked to remove their bras for a security check before being allowed into the offices of Israel's prime minister.
The three women were told by security personnel to undress and take off their bras for x-ray in two separate incidents at the Jerusalem offices of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week.
All three complied with the request, despite the distress it caused, in an incident denounced by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) as "unnecessary, humiliating and counter-productive."
Each of the women was taken behind a curtain in the lobby of the entrance hall and patted down before being told to undress, then their bras were passed out in full view of male and female colleagues and security personnel, to be put through an x-ray machine.
Their personal effects were also emptied out in public view and put through the machine.
"The Foreign Press Association strongly condemns the continued harassment of journalists attending media events at the prime minister?s office," a statement from the Tel-Aviv based group said.
"This type of treatment is unnecessary, humiliating and counter-productive."
Sara Hussein, who works for Agence France-Presse (AFP), described the incident as utterly humiliating.
"I can only describe the experience as among the most humiliating in my life," she wrote in a complaint to the FPA. "I have covered meetings of presidents at the White House and not been subjected to anything similar."
Neither of the other two women reporters, both of whom were deeply distressed by the incident, wished to be identified.
All three have filed detailed complaints with the FPA, which is pursuing the matter with the Israeli authorities.
Officials at the prime minister's office refused to comment directly on the two incidents, saying only: "We are aware of the concerns and we are looking into the matter."
In January this year, Netanyahu's security staff came under fire for ordering a pregnant Arab correspondent for Al-Jazeera to remove her bra in order to attend a cocktail event for the press at a five-star hotel in Jerusalem.
The FPA said it was considering whether or not to continue sending its members to events where they risked such treatment at the hands of the premier's security team.
"After repeated appeals and promises by security officials, it appears that the prime minister's office does not have the desire to stop this happening," it said.
"The FPA will begin consulting its members over whether the foreign media should no longer cover events at the PM's office as this is the only occasion where this type of incident occurs."
7 comments:
Ghana must follow Ivory Coast's idea about fighting corruption. Such a rich nation has nothing to show for. The politicians have stolen all the money from loans they always get from others.
Why should the government allow its own people to suffer over seventeen months without pay ? what does that better Ghana agenda notion stand for ? I have come to learn that nobody is in control - complaints go unanswered in many cases. It is very frustrating. Does the President know about this ? It is as serious as deliberately starving a section of the people.
As usual officials of the National Identification Agency have squandered the money meant for the workers. Why is the office of the Attorney General not protecting us by bringing these unscrupulous politicians and their corrupt contractual accomplices to justice ? A few weeks ago some wise artist approched Parliament for money to create biometric system for the upcoming elections. It should not take a rocket scientist to smell fishy deal in the air noting limited time left before election in proportion to abilities to cover the entire country for such a stupenduous amount of work involved in registration. Very often our leaders approve deals without thinking over how to implement them, cost involved and time frame for completion. They are ignorant and reckless in their perfomances of duty as they fail to monitor contracts awarded and departmental performances. They waste the money and when all is gone they crave for another loan from China and the Easten remote areas where their folly has not come to light yet. The dreams of our young ones are being whittled away through their thick smoke of ignorance. And the President - the captain, sits in silence as the ship sinks.
Wow, that is pretty piercy !
YES SIR, WHERE ARE THE ID CARDS ? I HAVEN'T RECIEVED MINE YET... CHEAP BASTARDS !!
Why will they even think the results of this election can be known in a short time ( 24hours) while it has taken over three years to fool over this National Identification Card Registration with no success. The President and the politicians involved in this crap have been silent as if they dont know whats going on. They go around telling foreigners that Ghan will not erupt like other neighbouring nations whose foolish leaders have plundered them into chaos but they sow seeds for malcontent and confusion. Imagine having a citizen left out of the process because for some technical reasons logistics designated will not reach the area or because of power failure some malfunctioning equipment makes it possible for crooked election officers to do it manually or collect data from up their heads to favour whichever candidate of their choice ! This would be an ugly scenario for a peace loving country whose characteristics have won international admiration for tolerance. What database will the election board use to compare the identity of Farmer X at Otuoano Junction near Pra River if he hasn't ever been fingerprinted but is qualified to vote as a citizen ? How does rejection sink well with the people if for some technical reasons a chunk of votes are rejected or thrown away ? Very recently corruption over computerized selection of candidates into our High Schools made it s way into the process to a disgraceful end, creating unecessary delays (2 months) for our young ones to be admitted to schools of some wild concocted choices. Imagine if this had happened to a candidate for parliamentary election or a party activitist whose hype hinges on the least provocation like this ! Foolish leadership, devoid of sense of foreseeability is what makes Africa a mockery of all it stands for - a laughing stock.
Well it seems good all the time.
Post a Comment