Mohammed Omer: A voice for the voiceless
February 5th, 2009 § 3 Comments
The following interview took place July 2008 with “The Commons,” a monthly newspaper in Windham County, Vermont, USA. I look forward to submitting future interviews with important figures on PULSE. – Christian Avard
Mohammed Omer never wanted to be a journalist. Life circumstances made him one. Mohammed, age 24, grew up in Rafah refugee camp in Gaza. The oldest of eight children, Mohammed endured life under the Israeli occupation.
He started writing for Social Nerve, now a defunct magazine. Later, he served as a radio correspondent for Free Speech Radio News, BBC and BBC Scotland radio, and the Norwegian national NRK TV. Mohammed has written for several publications such as ArtVoice Weekly, the Swedish dailies Dagen Nyheter and Aftonbladet, the Norwegian daily Dagbladet, the Basque daily Berria, the Swedish magazine Arbetaren, the online magazine Electronic Intifada and the Vermont Guardian. Now Mohammed is the Gaza Correspondent for IPS (Inter Press Service) and The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. In June, Mohammed received the prestigious Martha Gellhorn award for journalism. He accepted the award in London and returned to Gaza for his brother’s wedding. Yet upon his arrival at a West Bank border crossing, Israeli soldiers denied Mohammed entry. What followed was a nightmare.
Mohammed was psychologically and physically abused by eight Shin Bet officials. He was transferred to a hospital in Jericho and eventually allowed back into Gaza. He suffered cracked ribs and other injuries and has trouble breathing and swallowing. The Dutch Foreign Ministry has demanded an investigation but Israeli officials deny Mohammed was mistreated.
Mohammed first came to Brattleboro in November 2006. It was his first stop on his United States speaking tour sponsored by The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. That was when I met Mohammed and eventually interviewed him for iBrattleboro and The Vermont Guardian. Since then, we’ve stayed in contact. I caught up with Mohammed shortly after the incident. Despite everything he endured, Mohammed remains strong.
The Commons: What kind of support are you receiving? What stands out in your mind?
I have over 800 unread e-mails. Most of them saying, “you’re a strong man,” “I’m sorry to hear of your ordeal,” “We are ashamed because this is done in our names and our taxes,” etc. All my e-mail accounts are full. I’ve heard from people all over the world, in addition I’m continually receiving phone calls. I got the chance to speak with members from the Carter Center. They came to Gaza to speak with me. I now have support from the International Red Cross, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and many other international media organization. Some members of England’s House of Commons have called for an investigation which is also making the issue stronger.
The Commons: When we talked in Brattleboro you said, “I did not want to be a journalist. Life forced me to be one.” Why is that?
The fact that life in Gaza is not being told. There is no reporting about the injustice. There is no reporting of what’s happening. Therefore I decided I to be a journalist and be a voice for the voiceless. I need to make the world aware what’s going on in Gaza. I’m not complaining, but I choose to be a journalist simply because I want to get the truth out. That’s not my dream and that’s still not my dream, but I’m satisfied to be a voice for the voiceless.
The Commons: There seems to be a lack of context in the American media. Do you find the coverage of Israel-Palestine relations much different (or more accurate) abroad?
In Europe, the coverage is much better because the media is not privately owned. In America it is. They don’t dare to publish the truth. For example, Karin Laub of AP doubted my story. I’m a colleague, a fellow journalist. I feel they should support me. I was a victim of abuse and they say I’m a liar? Come on! (The soldiers) did something I know happened. I know I was tortured. I know I was put under gunpoint, made to take off my clothes and sit naked. Many people knew I was tortured and went through this ordeal. It’s very pitiful to see this kind of reporting (in the AP) because it’s not the truth.
The Commons: What other issues should Americans know about and how does your journalism address that?
They should know the reality of the occupation; the day to day life for Palestinians under the occupation. How much they suffer under the Israeli gun-machine and under the Israeli siege. (They should know) the fact that day to day life is difficult. Go into a refrigerator of a refugee family. See what kind of food they have. What have they got? Cooking oil is hard to find. It’s difficult and that’s what Americans need to know about.
The Commons: You won the prestigious Martha Gellhorn prize for journalism. Do you think your work has made an positive impact? How so?
I wouldn’t say I made a positive impact for Palestine. I would say I made a positive impact telling the truth. I’m not reporting just to say Palestinians are victims. I’m just telling the truth wherever it is and for those who deserve to give their voice to the world. I hope my stories help Americans understand because we want to bring this conflict to an end. I believe this conflict is man-made and the solution should also be man-made as well.
The Commons: Despite everything you experienced in your life, what keeps going?
I still have faith. I still have hope and I feel it in my heart that peace and justice will come one day. I will never give up because despite this ordeal, the problems I’ve faced, and what I’m going through right now, I will continue because the other choice is disaster. My choice is to tell the truth and bring the bridges together. That’s the way it should be. No conflict. No wars. No discrimination because of age, sex, or nationality. The whole world should live in peace as they are. Jews, Christians, Buddhists, or Muslims, they should all live together in peace.
To read more of Mohammed’s works, visit www.rafahtoday.org and “http://www.wrmea.com/” To sign the petition in support of Mohammed, go to www.mediausa.net/wrmea/petition/.
Mohammed Omer & I, November 2006, Brattleboro, VT USA
Omar we all love you. You are an inspiration for the truthseekers.
[...] had he not been murdered by Zionists as he was growing into his prime? Have they not heard of Mohammed Omer or any of the other journalists tortured and imprisoned and prevented from travelling by the [...]
Hi Omer, you are an inspiration to many – in fact for everybody fighting against injustice and human right violations in any part of our world. I am from India, and I see similar things happening here as well, albeit in different circumstances. The underlying fact is that the innocent people suffer for no fault pf theirs. My best wishes to you and your ilk.