Last week, Israeli police briefly detained Washington Post journalist William Booth - and the journalist community went nuts with articles about how Israel had no respect for freedom of the press, with the New York Times even comparing it to Iran's arrest and imprisonment of a reporter for 18 months.Here's what Reuters reporter Luke Baker tweeted about it (among other tweets):
Now released, but the brief detention and questioning still seems wholly unacceptable https://t.co/16tYWcl8Ba— Luke Baker (@LukeReuters) February 16, 2016
Today, Hamas detained Baker himself. Instead of saying that it was "wholly unacceptable," though, Baker seemed to enjoy the experience:
Briefly taken in for polite questions by Hamas security forces in #Gaza today. Interesting placard on the wall pic.twitter.com/Ducf05b5Mt— Luke Baker (@LukeReuters) February 25, 2016
On questioning in #Gaza -- I was not reporting. Was called to one side while walking on the street and taken into a small headquarters 1/3— Luke Baker (@LukeReuters) February 25, 2016
I was not escorted by anyone with guns. A major from the security services introduced himself by name and asked me a series of questions 2/3— Luke Baker (@LukeReuters) February 25, 2016
I was never accused of anything. Was given coffee and then tea. All questions about what I was doing in Gaza and what I do for work, etc— Luke Baker (@LukeReuters) February 25, 2016
Excuse me. Hamas could have given Baker a full day at a spa it wouldn't matter - a government detaining a journalist for no reason is a form of intimidation. Unless Baker could have freely refused to be questioned, he was being given a message that his actions in Gaza were being watched and that he should be careful not to upset the authorities.
In this case, there is no danger that Baker would ever say anything that would upset his Hamas buddies, and both Hamas and Baker know it. So he enjoyed his tea and chatted freely.
And no reporter's rights organization will say anything about this. If Baker didn't mind being given a clear message from Hamas to toe the line, why should anyone else?
Yes, Baker has double standards. In this case, it is clear that Baker sympathizes more with Hamas authorities who torture and murder people who they disagree with than he does with Israel which had a real reason to detain a reporter.
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