Palestinian journalist proposes marriage to PA President Abbas via Facebook

Other journalists in Ramallah have expressed fear that she may be fired or detained for “insulting” Abbas.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Iman Hareedy, a journalist with Palestine TV (photo credit: Courtesy Facebook)
Iman Hareedy, a journalist with Palestine TV
(photo credit: Courtesy Facebook)
Iman Hareedy, a journalist with Palestine TV, published a letter via Facebook asking Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to marry her on Thursday.
Shortly after the letter was published, the 28-year-old Hareedy was summoned to appear before a commission of inquiry belonging to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday.
Palestinian journalists in Ramallah expressed fear that she may be fired or detained for “insulting” Abbas.
In her marriage proposal to Abbas, Hareedy wrote: “I’m requesting to marry your excellency so that I could have a dignified life and receive humane treatment by society. I want to fulfill my ambitions and dreams, as well as the dreams of many youths my age, who seek a decent job and facilities in their lives.”
Hareedy said that her marriage proposal was designed to “halt injustice against me and my colleagues. I’m not the daughter of an official who is capable of providing his sons and daughters with anything they want and dream of. I’m not the daughter of an influential man or leader. I’m the daughter of an ordinary man whom I’m proud of.”
In her letter, Hareedy said that “Palestinian reality has made me realize that a decent life and job, and social, economic and even political privileges are reserved only for the family of an official.”
Addressing Abbas, she added: “Your excellency, I have academic qualifications and expertise, but the son of an official has his father. Doors are shut in front of the sons of an ordinary citizen. Your excellency, please put an end to this in your official and nonofficial institutions. Please embrace our youths who are constantly thinking of emigration.”
Hareedy later clarified that her goal was not to marry Abbas, but to protest against nepotism in the PA.
She said her letter was aimed at “relaying the suffering of Palestinian youths as a result of nepotism and lack of work opportunities.”
Hareedy expressed hope that the PA leadership would address the problems and difficulties facing Palestinian youths.