Mohammed Omer ( ar, محمد عمر), (born 1984) is a
Palestinian
Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...
journalist
A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...
. He has reported for numerous media outlets, including ''The New York Times'', the ''
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
The ''Washington Report on Middle East Affairs'' (also known as ''The Washington Report'' and WRMEA) magazine, published eight times per year, focuses on "news and analysis from and about the Middle East and U.S. policy in that region". '',
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera ...
, ''
New Statesman
The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...
'',
Pacifica Radio
Pacifica may refer to:
Art
* ''Pacifica'' (statue), a 1938 statue by Ralph Stackpole for the Golden Gate International Exposition
Places
* Pacifica, California, a city in the United States
** Pacifica Pier, a fishing pier
* Pacifica, a conceiv ...
,
Electronic Intifada
''The Electronic Intifada'' (''EI'') is an online Chicago-based publication covering the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It describes itself as not-for-profit, independent, and providing a Palestinian perspective.
History
''EI'' was founded in ...
, ''
The Nation
''The Nation'' is an American liberal biweekly magazine that covers political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's '' The Liberator'', an abolitionist newspaper tha ...
'',
Inter Press Service
Inter Press Service (IPS) is a global news agency headquartered in Rome, Italy. Its main focus is news and analysis about social, political, civil, and economic subjects as it relates to the Global South, civil society and globalization.
Hist ...
, Free Speech Radio News, ''Vermont Guardian'', ''ArtVoice Weekly'', the Norwegian ''
Morgenbladet
''Morgenbladet'' is a Norwegian weekly, newspaper, covering politics, culture and science.
History
''Morgenbladet'' was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg. The paper is the country's first daily newspaper; however, Adresseavi ...
'', and ''
Dagsavisen
''Dagsavisen'' is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999. It has borne several names, and was called ''Arbeiderbladet'' from 1923 to 1997. ...
'', the Swedish dailies ''Dagen Nyheter'' and ''
Aftonbladet
''Aftonbladet'' (, lit. "The evening paper") is a Swedish daily newspaper published in Stockholm, Sweden. It is one of the largest daily newspapers in the Nordic countries.
History and profile
The newspaper was founded by Lars Johan H ...
'' the Swedish magazine ''
Arbetaren
''Arbetaren'' (''The Worker'') is a Swedish syndicalist newspaper. Founded in 1922, it has been published by the anarcho-syndicalist union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematic ...
'', the Basque daily ''
Berria
''Berria'' (Basque language, Basque: ''News'') is the only daily newspaper published wholly in the Basque language and which can be read in the entirety of the Basque Country (historical territory), Basque country. It was created after the closure ...
'', the German daily ''
Junge Welt
''Junge Welt'' (English: ''Young World'', stylized in its logo as ''junge Welt'') is a German daily newspaper, published in Berlin. The jW describes itself as a left-wing and Marxist newspaper. German authorities categorize it as a far-left medi ...
'' and the Finish magazine ''
Ny Tid
''Ny Tid'' (English: ''Modern Times Review'') is Norway's largest international quarterly review of non-fiction books – up to 50 in each issue. It is currently owned by Ny Tid & Orientering AS.
''Ny Tid'' is headed by the newspaper founder Tr ...
''. He also founded ''Rafah Today'' and is the author of several books, including ''Shell-Shocked''
Awards
In 2008, Omer was awarded the 2007
Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism
The Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, named for the war correspondent, Martha Gellhorn, was established in 1999 by the Martha Gellhorn Trust. The Trust is a UK-registered charity. The award is founded on the following principles:
The awar ...
.
["Martha Gellhorn"](_blank)
''Martha Gellhorn
Martha Ellis Gellhorn (8 November 1908 – 15 February 1998) was an American novelist, travel writer, and journalist who is considered one of the great war correspondents of the 20th century.
Gellhorn reported on virtually every major worl ...
,'' In the award citation, he was honored as "the voice of the voiceless" and his reports were described as an "humane record of the injustice imposed on a community forgotten by much of the world". Noam
Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky (born December 7, 1928) is an American public intellectual: a linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is ...
said he had been following Omer's work for several years and was pleased to learn of his award, "an honor that he richly deserves". He went on, he "...has continued his work with courage and integrity. It is no exaggeration to say that he can serve as a model of honorable journalism." He was awarded the
Ossietzky Prize
The Ossietzky Award ( no, Ossietzkyprisen ) is a prize awarded by the Norwegian chapter of P.E.N., for extraordinary contributions to freedom of speech.
The prize is named after writer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Carl von Ossietzky.
Recip ...
by the Norwegian branch of
P.E.N. International in 2009, for "outstanding achievements within the field of free expression". He was also given an honorable mention in Pulse Media's 20 Top Global Media Figures of 2009.
* "Best Youth Voice" (2006).
* Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism (2008)
*
Ossietzky Prize
The Ossietzky Award ( no, Ossietzkyprisen ) is a prize awarded by the Norwegian chapter of P.E.N., for extraordinary contributions to freedom of speech.
The prize is named after writer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Carl von Ossietzky.
Recip ...
(2009)
* Press Freedom Prize (2009)
* Ranked 398 by Arabian Business Power 500 (2013)
Background
Omer was raised in the
Rafah refugee camp at the southern end of the
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip (;The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.761 "Gaza Strip /'gɑːzə/ a strip of territory under the control of the Palestinian National Authority and Hamas, on the SE Mediterranean coast including the town of Gaza.. ...
near the
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
ian border. He began working to support his family at the age of six when his father was in an Israeli prison. In time, he took a job at a backpack factory and since then has been a translator, journalist and program co-ordinator.
Omer graduated with dual bachelor degrees, English and literature, from the
Islamic University of Gaza in June 2006.
[Biography of Gaza Correspondent Mohammed Omer]
, ''Washington Report on Middle East Affairs'' 2006. Verified 17 November 2008.
Incidents
Israeli restrictions have sometimes stopped him travelling to the West Bank.
In 2008, while traveling back to the Gaza Strip via Allenby Bridge to the
West Bank
The West Bank ( ar, الضفة الغربية, translit=aḍ-Ḍiffah al-Ġarbiyyah; he, הגדה המערבית, translit=HaGadah HaMaʽaravit, also referred to by some Israelis as ) is a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...
, Omer reported that he was stripped to his underwear, humiliated and beaten by Israeli soldiers while traveling into the West Bank from Jordan. According to a United Nations report, Omer is convinced that the brutal assault occurred when the security services were frustrated at their inability to confiscate the money he had been awarded.
He was subsequently hospitalized on his return to Gaza, where it was discovered that he had sustained several broken ribs and various bodily contusions as a result of the ordeal. Omer has recovered since and has been able to maintain his position as a journalist. The government of
The Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
, which had sent a diplomat to welcome Omer and accompany him to Gaza, lodged an official protest with Israel about his mistreatment.
"Netherlands protests treatment of journalist"
, Radio Netherlands, 27 June 2008
References
External links
Mohammed Omer 2007 Martha Gellhorn Prize
Gaza journalist Mohammed Omer: His life and words
Rafah Today
Telephone Interview with Mohammed Omer Regarding Detainment Abuse
on Democracy Now
''Democracy Now!'' is an hour-long American TV, radio, and Internet news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live each weekday at ...
Mohammed Omer's 'Truth'
The Dangers and Difficulties of Reporting from Gaza
Life in Hell: A Journalist's Account of Life in Gaza" with Mr. Mohammed Omer
at The Palestine Center The Palestine Center (previously called the Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine until 2002) is an independent educational program based in Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C. Their focus is on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and other Middle East ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Omer, Mohammed
1984 births
Living people
People from the Gaza Strip
Palestinian reporters and correspondents
Alternative journalists
Islamic University of Gaza alumni