Gaza Reporters Boycott Forum On Hamas' New Laws for Media

Hamas has drafted a new media law that many local journalists claim restricts freedom of expression, Abeer Ayyoub reports.
A member of the Hamas security force stands guard as a woman takes pictures during a demonstration in solidarity with al-Aqsa mosque, organized by the Hamas movement in Gaza City September 28, 2009. Israeli police and Palestinian protesters clashed at the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday morning. Palestinians said the clash was triggered by religious Israeli Jews trying to enter the holy site, while Israeli police said it began when religious Palestinians angered by immodestly dressed
A member of the Hamas security force stands guard as a woman takes pictures during a demonstration organized by the Hamas movement in Gaza City, Sept. 28, 2009. - REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Abeer
Abeer Ayyoub
@Abeerayyoub

Hamas has begun drafting a new law that it said would “regulate” the media in the Gaza Strip, which journalists and rights activists have criticized as restricting media freedom.

To discuss the draft with Gaza journalists, the Hamas-run government press office in Gaza last week held a forum to which more than 70 local journalists were invited. At least 60 boycotted.

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