Iran TV reporters jailed over censorship breach
Tehran's Alalam TV employees Kadir Shahin, Mohammed Sarhan, who reported on IDF incursion during Operation Cast Lead despite media embargo, found guilty of relaying information to enemy, sentenced to two months in prison
The Jerusalem District Court sentenced east Jerusalem residents Kadir Shahin (34) and Mohammed Sarhan (26), who were indicted for relaying information to the enemy by violating a censorship order while employed by Iranian TV as reporter and producer, respectively, to two months in prison and six months probation.
The two struck a plea bargain with the State Prosecutor's Office. While working for the Iranian television station Alalam the two covered the events Operation Cast Lead from the Israeli side of the Gaza border and broke the military censorship laws.
The prosecution claimed that the two knowingly violated the censor's instructions at the time. As they were operating in Israeli territory in their capacity as members of the press, the two were subject to the censor's authority.
From his position on the Israeli side of the border Shahin could observe troop movements in detail and proceeded to report the developments live. During one of his broadcasts from the field Shahin reported that the heavy movement of tanks and APCs towards the border indicated that the ground incursion had begun.
The court noted in its ruling that the two reported about the onset of the Israeli incursion into Gaza Strip despite the censor's orders, and added that the measures were in place to protect the lives of IDF soldiers and the success of the military campaign.
The defendants attorneys, David Deri and Tamer Obied, told Ynet that they would appeal the sentencing. They added that while the original charge was suspicion of espionage, it "ended with misdemeanor negligence. And no one has ever been sent to jail on such offenses." Their clients meant no harm, they said.
