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Mohammed Omer (journalist)

Mohammed Omer Almoghayer
محمد عمر المغير
Born1984 (age 39–40)
Rafah Camp
NationalityPalestinian
OccupationAuthor

Mohammed Omer Almoghayer (Arabic: محمد عمر المغير), (born 1984) is a Palestinian author. He has reported for numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs,[1] Al Jazeera,[2] New Statesman,[3] Pacifica Radio, Electronic Intifada,[4] The Nation,[5] Inter Press Service,[6] Free Speech Radio News,[7] Vermont Guardian,[8] ArtVoice Weekly,[9] the Norwegian Morgenbladet,[10] and Dagsavisen, the Swedish dailies Dagen Nyheter and Aftonbladet the Swedish magazine Arbetaren,[11] the Basque daily Berria, the German daily Junge Welt and the Finish magazine Ny Tid.[12] He also founded Rafah Today[13] and is the author of several books, including Shell-Shocked. His work has been translated into 23 languages, including Hindi, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Japanese. He completed his doctoral studies, culminating in a PhD degree, at both Columbia University and Erasmus University Rotterdam. [14] During his time, he also held a prestigious scholarship. In 2015, he assumed the role of a Research Scholar at Harvard University.[15]

Awards

In 2008, Omer was awarded the 2007 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism.[16] 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".[17] Noam Chomsky 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."[18] He was awarded the Ossietzky Prize by the Norwegian branch of P.E.N. International in 2009, for "outstanding achievements within the field of free expression".[19] He was also given an honorable mention in Pulse Media's 20 Top Global Media Figures of 2009.[20]

  • "Best Youth Voice" (2006).[21]
  • Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism (2008) [16]
  • Ossietzky Prize (2009[19]
  • Press Freedom Prize (2009)[22]
  • Ranked 398 by Arabian Business Power 500 (2013)[23]

Background

Omer was born and raised in the Rafah refugee camp at the southern end of the Gaza Strip near the Egyptian 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.[24]

Omer graduated with dual bachelor degrees, English and literature, from the Islamic University of Gaza in June 2006.[25]

Incidents

Israeli restrictions have sometimes stopped him travelling to the West Bank.[26]

In 2008, while traveling back to the Gaza Strip via Allenby Bridge to the West Bank, Omer reported that he was stripped to his underwear, humiliated and beaten by Israeli soldiers while traveling into the West Bank from Jordan.[27] 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.[28]

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.[29][30] The government of The Netherlands, which had sent a diplomatic mission to welcome Omer and accompany him to Gaza, lodged an official protest with Israel about his mistreatment.[31]

References

  1. ^ "Washington Report correspondent Mohammed Omer speaks with Hesham Tillawi". Current Issues TV. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Mohammed Omer". Al Jazeera English.
  3. ^ "Mohammed Omer". New Statesman.
  4. ^ "Mohammed Omer". Electronic Intifada.
  5. ^ "Mohammed Omer". The Nation. 2 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Mohammed Omer". Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008.
  7. ^ "What the press will never tell you about Gaza". Right to Facts. November 2006. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Mohammed Omer". Vermont Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Mohammed Omer". It's all about people. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Gazas nye eliter". Morgenbladet. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011.
  11. ^ Brynge, Agnes (30 June 2008). "Palestinsk journalist slogs medvetslös". Arbetaren. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Mohammed Omer". Ny Tid.
  13. ^ "Home". Rafah Today.
  14. ^ "Mohammed Omer, witness to revolution in Egypt & the struggle for freedom in Gaza". Center for Palestine Studies. Columbia University. 4 March 2011.
  15. ^ "Mohammed Omer Compares U.S. Immigrant Detentions, Mass Incarceration And Gaza". WBEZ Chicago. 13 December 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Previous Winners". Martha Gellhorn.
  17. ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (19 May 2008). "Reporters share Gellhorn prize". The Guardian.
  18. ^ "Norway grants award to Rafah journalist". Ma'an News Agency. 3 October 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Mohammed Omer awarded the Ossietzky Prize". Norsk P.E.N. 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  20. ^ "20 Top Global Media Figures of 2009". Pulse Media. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Winners of the First National Ethnic Media Awards". New American Media. Archived from the original on 16 January 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  22. ^ "Pressfrihetspris till palestinsk fotograf". Journalisten (in Swedish). 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009.
  23. ^ "Arabian Business Power 500 2013". arabianbusiness.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  24. ^ Avard, Christian (8 December 2006). "Gaza journalist Mohammed Omer: His life and words". Electronic Intifada. Vermont Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Biography of Gaza Correspondent Mohammed Omer" (PDF). Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  26. ^ "Viewpoints from Sderot and Rafah". BBC News. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Award-Winning Palestinian Journalist Mohammed Omer Details Abuse by Israeli Security Officials Democracy Now!". Democracy Now. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Report of the Special Rapporteur in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1". United Nations. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2008. Mr. Omer is convinced that the brutal assault on his person was carried out by Shin Bet personnel who were fully aware that he had received the Gellhorn Prize while abroad, and were attempting to confiscate the award money, but were frustrated because it had been deposited in a bank account and was unavailable.
  29. ^ Frykberg, Mel (28 June 2008). "Israelis Assault Award Winning IPS Journalist". Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  30. ^ "Gaza Reporter Says Mistreated By Israel". The New York Times. 30 June 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  31. ^ "Netherlands protests treatment of journalist". Radio Netherlands. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008.
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