A Dutch reporter for the media outlet NU.nl was arrested on Friday by police at a World Cup stadium in Qatar. The images he took showed security guards and police officers.
Photo journalist Bas Scharwachter wrote on Twitter that he was forced to delete the photos from his phone and then go to his recycle bin and permanently erase them. However, he still managed to keep a video.
Editor Gert-Jaap Hoekman of NU.nl confirmed the story: “Scharwachter was taking footage of the atmosphere in the stadium to see how preparations for Monday’s game were going. In this video you can see police officers and security guards sitting or lying on the ground. I know about the restrictions imposed, but I don’t see why we can’t take this footage.”
Hoekman is not yet sure whether he will take any action. “This says a lot about how journalists have to do their job on the ground,” he said. “It is something that worries me.”
The World Cup kicks off on Sunday with a match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador.
