Real journalism requires freedom

There’s a reason the First Amendment not only defends the right to free exercise of religion, free speech, and freedom of assembly, but also of a free press. These all go hand in hand under the freedom of conscience — the right to think and express those thoughts in what we say and do, and by who we associate with. Importantly, the First Amendment also protects our right to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This freedom of conscience must the ability to point out what we believe is wrong, even if it makes those in power unhappy.

In many ways, the press are those who shine a light on these uncomfortable areas so other citizens will be aware and can “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” But when the role of journalist is limited only to those who parrot approved messaging, it is no longer journalism but something else — propaganda. They are no longer speaking truth to power but are speaking the truth of the powerful.

I was reminded of this when I received an email invitation to join a “Week of Action” Aug. 10-16 to advocate for the protection of the world’s journalists, ending with a rally at Moore Square in Raleigh. The group, Palestinian Youth Movement Network of NC, specifically reached out to me in my capacity as a journalist:

We are extending a special invitation to journalists, reporters, photographers, editors, and members of the press to join us—not only to cover this action, but to stand alongside the community as we honor their fellow journalists who were killed while documenting the realities of war, occupation, and genocide.

So it would be an event supporting my profession, and in the town where I work. Sounds right up my alley, right? But as a journalist, I had some questions. First, it said it was marking the one-year anniversary of ” the murder of Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif by Israel” and to honor him and “the more than 309 journalists killed across Palestine, Lebanon, and the region.”

Who is this Anas al-Sharif? I had the Palestinian side — that he was a brave journalist who was murdered by Israeli military — but what do the Israelis say about him?

A quick internet search uncovered a lot. The Israeli government said they had documentation that al Sharif was a Hamas insider, in addition to his role with Al Jazeera as a journalist covering the war in Gaza. They also pointed to his social media history, where, as Hamas was going door to door killing entire families and raping and torturing people like savages on Oct. 7, al Sharif was posting about how “the heroes” were still inside Israel “killing and capturing.” Of course, opponents of Israel say the Israeli government fabricated the post.

Even if that particular tweet had been Israeli propaganda, nobody denies that he had very close ties to the leaders of Hamas, as many of his posts were of him snapping selfies with key terrorist leaders, like Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar.

The BBC said in its article on his death that they were aware that al Sharif had worked with Hamas’ media team. Israel has presented evidence that al Sharif not only worked on propaganda for Hamas but also was the head of a guided rocket squad unit. He also may have married into Sinwar’s family.

That might seem crazy that a journalist would also moonlight as a terrorist cell leader, but it’s not that far fetched when you know how tightly Hamas rules the Gaza Strip and crushes dissent. People fill in where they’re needed.

To get an idea of just how this works in Gaza regarding journalism, a National Review article about how the Washington Post was totally duped time and again by Hamas misinformation was very illuminating. It showed Hamas did their best to control the narrative on any incident, often by making up clearly false details. And while many Western journalists would catch on that they were being lied to by the fake Hamas-controlled media figures, the Washington Post uniquely fell for even the most ridiculous propaganda.

For those who want to report from the ground, you need to be willing to stay on message, or you’re not welcome to be a “journalist” in Gaza.

And Anas al Sharif wouldn’t be the first Hamas-affiliated journalists under the Al Jazeera corporate banner. When Israel was frantically looking for their hostages taken on Oct. 7, three hostages were found at the home of Abdallah Aljamal, another self-proclaimed journalist who had written for Al Jazeera.

The recent US Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the Muslim Brotherhood and their wide global network of affiliates shed light on why this might be.

Al Jazeera is closely connected to the Brotherhood, with the group’s spiritual leader, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, running the equivalent of a Fulton Sheen or 500 Club religious television show, “Shariah and Life,” on Al Jazeera for 17 years until his death. Qatar, which owns Al Jazeera, is consider the Muslim Brotherhood’s main state sponsor and hosts the group’s leadership.

Among the Brotherhood leaders protected by Qatar were, until recently, those of Hamas, which is the main Muslim Brotherhood affiliate in Palestine.

So for Al Jazeera to hire local Palestinian Hamas members to be their “journalists” on the ground is a fairly internal matter among Brotherhood affiliates.

Thinking about the congressional hearings about the Muslim Brotherhood, and how they’ve been able to set up groups within the United States and the wider West, I wondered: Who is this “Palestinian Youth Movement” that is inviting me and other journalists to Moore Square anyway?

It did not take much digging at all to find very concerning connections. The group was set up in Spain in 2006, with the early “global coordinator” being local Spanish-Arab activist Saif Abukishek. My next question was: Is there any connection between Abukishek and Hamas or the wider Muslim Brotherhood movement?

Turns out, yes. In March of this year, the US Treasury Department released a statement that they were “taking action against key actors operating within Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks.” The statement specifically targeted the group Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), saying “the PCPA was established with funding from Hamas’s International Relations Bureau and Hamas directs its activity through the placement of Hamas officials throughout the organization, including its executive body, the General Secretariat.”

Guess who the first name is on that list of those in the “General Secretariat” of PCPA? It says, “Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek (Abukishek) is a Spain-based member of the General Secretariat of PCPA.”

Then it goes on to discuss the various Palestinian activist organizations and their connections to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood movement. What are the odds? It appears the group gathering to honor a Hamas-linked “journalist” was started by a Hamas-linked activist.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and their many acolytes do not support real journalists or journalism. They want to use journalists as tools of war — whether as human shields or propaganda weapons. So, as someone who supports real journalism, where a free person, uncontrolled by local thugs or government tyrants, can present the real story, I will have to decline the invitation to attend your event.

“Real journalism requires freedom” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.