Monday, June 28, 2021

Silencing the whistleblower?

Nofer Moshe Fredo, a journalist at Kan, Israel's government TV station, tweeted what follows below and urged her followers to circulate it further. 

It highlights how brazenly ruthless facilities for people with disabilities can be. Their right to control and abuse our most vulnerable is so precious - and lucrative - they will even head to court to protect it. 

This specific instance, involving Neve Ha'Irus, about which I've written often (May 9, 2021; November 4, 2017; February 23, 2017; February 9, 2017; February 2, 2017; December 24, 2016) may confront the new Minister of Welfare, Meir Cohen, with his first real test.

It reads [my translation]:
Update on Neve Ha'Irus for the attention of the new Minister Meir Cohen. After the airing of an investigative segment on that place, among other things, about a resident who became physically disabled [due to mistreatment there] and about another one who died as a result of neglect and also about the locking of residents in the "white room", while several guards were fired and the Ministry of Welfare conducted a hearing that led to a series of procedural changes. Nevertheless, at the same time, the administration of that place decided to sue one of the employees who revealed and warned of incidents of violence against and injury to residents. They argue that he violated the privacy of residents. But don't be confused, this is a cynical lawsuit that is making use of a law intended to protect residents in order to signal to other employees that it would be worthwhile to keep quiet.
The court document, which Fredo posted, demands the following court orders:
  • That the respondent be obligated to hand over all the photographs in his possession that he took of residents at Neve Ha'Irus.
  • That the respondent be forbidden from using in any way either now or in the future photographs that he took at Neve Ha'Irus...
From one of my earlier Neve Ha'irus
posts - click image to enlarge [Link]
It goes on
The interest of the plaintiff [Neve Ha'Irus] and the context of the lawsuit, as detailed below, relate to the crude and serious violation of the obligations of the respondent who has a past rich in fraud and acts of deceit, towards the plaintiff.
There was more outrageous legal nonsense in Neve Ha'Irus' complaint but I'm sure you get the picture. 

It reminds me of the times I attempted to document neglect in other institutions for people with disabilities only to cop reprimands from the administration and staff for "violating the privacy of residents".

Verbal accounts, minus supportive photographs, are light on impact and accomplish little - as we all know. It remains to be seen whether the court will agree. For now, please help Nofer and circulate this further.

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