- Title: Al Jazeera says Israel trying to silence independent journalism
- Date: 7th August 2017
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SHARD BUILDING AL JAZEERA LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) AL JAZEERA SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, JAMAL EL-SHYAL, SAYING: "It is an attempt to muzzle and silence independent journalists from doing their jobs. It is an affront on one of the most basic tenets of international law in human rights, which is the human right to be informed, to know. And this is something that we find outrageous, that a government that claims to be one of the only democratic ones in existence in the Middle East, thinks that in the 21st century, it can actually go after journalists and media institutions in order to silence any form of reporting on its actions and its policies that it may not like." VARIOUS OF PRESENTER IN AL JAZEERA STUDIO (SOUNDBITE) (English) AL JAZEERA SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, JAMAL EL-SHYAL, SAYING: "We should not allow, as journalists and as freedom loving people, regardless of what our backgrounds are, for governments to decide which journalists should operate when. There is an idea which we all aspire to, which is to live in societies that are free and open and accountable, and this is something that we, as journalists, participate in."
- Embargoed: 21st August 2017 20:01
- Keywords: Al Jazeera media organisation Doha The Shard Jerusalem bureau Arab countries diplomatic ties
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK AND DOHA, QATAR
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK AND DOHA, QATAR
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016T5RWW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Qatar-based media organisation Al Jazeera said on Monday (August 7) it would legally challenge Israel's decision to shut down the network in Jerusalem, calling it an attack on independent journalism.
The move by Israel was an attempt to "muzzle and silence" journalism, Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent Jamal El-Shyal told Reuters in an interview at the company's London office.
Israel said on Sunday (August 6) it planned to revoke the media credentials of Al Jazeera TV journalists and close the network's Jerusalem bureau.
The decision adds further pressure on Qatar, which is already involved in a dispute in the region. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have all severed diplomatic and commercial ties with their Arab neighbour. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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