In midst of interview: Police attacked religious journalist

During the demonstration held last night (Wednesday) , at the Shmuel Hanavi Street in Jerusalem, in protest against the nightly closing of Harav Ovadia Yosef's grave, Yair Sharki , Army Radio radio reporter was violently attacked by police .

A witness on scene told Behadrey Haredim that Sharki tried to hold an interview with a woman who attended the demonstration: "A policeman came up to Sharki and asked him to leave, he explained that he was a journalist from Army Radio and doing an interview, but the officer did not accede to his request and violently attacked him and kicked his lower body."

The witness adds that "they almost arrested him, but someone said he was her brother and told them not to arrest him."

Sharki commented on the attack in his Facebook page: "What I am troubled about is, that if it was just a Haredi bystander you would have probably not hear of it. It happens almost every demonstration of HAredim, settlers or activists in Tel Aviv. Not individual police, but a method that probably gets a backing from above, and that's actually also important to mention."

"The religions reporters' cell sees the offense agains Yair Sharki with severity," it was said in response to the attack. "As reporters who are on the scene we often come across violent cops who are drunk with power.

"Soon there will be a meeting with the police and the issue will be raised. We demand of the Israeli police to prosecute violent cops. Freedom of the press is a fundamental principle in a democratic country and it is time the police should recognize this fact."

The Jerusalem police said that the issue is under review.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!