Syrian authorities have released Reuters photographer Khaled al-Hariri. The Syrian national had been held for six days. He was arrested as he reached his Damascus workplace last Monday. Three other Reuters journalists have also been detained this week, but they have been released and forced to leave the country.
Hamas security officers in Gaza harassed and attacked journalists covering recent protests. At least five journalists were attacked by police while covering peaceful protests commemorating Land Day on Wednesday (30 March). Journalists also had their equipment seized and confiscated. Later, in response to recent criticism, officials from Hamas’s Interior Ministry announced that they would no longer detain or harass journalists without formal charges.
Al Jazeera reporter Lotfi Al Masoudi has been released after being detained by Libyan forces. He was one of four journalists who were arrested on 19 March. They were released on the 31 March, then rearrested later the same day. The Libyan officials offered no explanation as to why they were detained and would not reveal where they were held. Al Masoudi has now returned to his native Tunisia, and has said that they were not mistreated.
Michael Georgy, a Reuters correspondent, was expelled by the Libyan government from the country on Wednesday. The reporter was notified by authorities on Tuesday that he must leave Libya the following day; no reason was given for the expulsion. Georgy had earlier been detained for several hours by authorities after trying to reach Misrata, a rebel held city. Editor-in-chief, Stephen Adler stated: “We regret the decision of the Libyan authorities to expel our correspondent and we regret the fact that no reason has been given for his expulsion.”