2007: Palestine: Suleiman Abdul Rahim Al-Ashi
31. May 2007
Mr Ismail Haniya
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minster
Your Excellency;
Norwegian PEN is alarmed and dismayed by the news of the killing of journalist Suleiman Abdul Rahim Al-Ashi, economics editor for the Hamas-affiliated daily Palestine, who was shot dead in a targeted attack on 13 May 2007 in Gaza City, and call for an immediate investigation to bring his killers to justice.
Norwegian PEN would also like to express its grave concern for the safety of journalists in Gaza, and call on the Palestinian authorities to take all necessary measures to protect journalists who are being targeted with apparent impunity for their reporting.
Norwegian PEN and its Writers in Prison Committee condemn the murder of Suleiman Abdul Raim al-Ashi, economics editor for the Hamas-affiliated daily “Palestine”, who was shot dead in a targeted attack on 13th May in Gaza City. We call for an immediate investigation to bring his killers to justice. Al-Ashi died during the assault, while his colleague Mohammad Matar Abdo, who was also brutally attacked at the same time, died in hospital following the beatings.
Your Excellency, Norwegian PEN and the Writers in Prison Committee urge you to look into these cases at your earliest convenience and to listen to our appeal to have the cases thoroughly investigated.
We thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely
Aase Gjerdrum/s.
member, Writers in Prison Committee
Carl Morten Iversen
Secretary General
Cc: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Journalists Association
