Ref: 84/2012
Date: 02 August 2012
Time: 12:00 GMT
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned about the decisions issued by the Attorney General in Gaza to ban the travel of Osama Jaber Khail, Director of the Palestinian Contractors Union, on the ground of a press release, in addition to 8 journalists on the ground of their activity in the Journalists’ Syndicate, whose head office is in the West Bank. PCHR believes that these decisions are unjustified and may restrict the right to the freedom of opinion and expression, the right to form unions and associations and join them, and the right to the freedom of movement, which are all guaranteed under the Basic Law and related international human rights standards.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and a statement from Osama Jaber Khail, at approximately 14:45 on Tuesday, 24 July 2012, Mr. Khail received a text message stating that he had been prevented from traveling until investigations regarding him are concluded. The message was signed with “Associations Prosecution, the Attorney General’s Office.” On Thursday, 19 July 2012, Mr. Khail was summoned by the Attorney General to be questioned about a press release he had made more than a month ago prior to the summons. The press release was about types of cement that were invalid for construction and smuggled through the tunnels, in addition to the role of the Ministry of National Economy and Public Works in examining materials and monitoring concrete industry companies. Mr. Khail was questioned for 3 days before he was prevented from traveling until the investigation is concluded.
It should be noted that Mr. Khail was detained last year when he was questioned by the Attorney General, and that he was also prevented from traveling then on the grounds of issuing a press release. In that press release, he criticized measures followed by the Gaza Municipality to start a project improving the Feras Market area without bids or competition between investors. As a result, the project was suspended and offered in due process.
In the same context, on 26 July 2012, journalist Tahseen al-Astal, Deputy Director of the Journalists’ Syndicate (located in Ramallah), was orally informed by the Attorney General that he was prevented from traveling, as he had been questioned by the Associations Prosecution on a complaint presented by the Deputy Director of the Journalists Syndicate in Gaza. On 29 July 2012, the Attorney General told al-Astal that the 7 members of the Syndicate’s Board of Directors in Gaza are prevented from traveling until investigations are concluded. In his
statement to PCHR’s fieldworker, al-Astal said that he was questioned about the Syndicate’s elections, which were conducted in the West Bank, and how the e-voting of the Gaza Strip’s
journalists violates the Syndicate’s regulations. Al-Astal added that the Attorney General requested he sign a bond that he would never work for the interest of the Syndicate again, nor represent it locally or internationally, but al-Astal refused to do so.
It should be noted that PCHR has paid a great attention to the impact of the political split in the Palestinian Authority on the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and all professional problems, part of which are related to membership. PCHR had abstained from participating in monitoring the Syndicate’s elections and requested conducting fundamental reforms first. However, PCHR rejects the way the Syndicate is treated within Gaza and how it is forcibly controlled by a temporary board of directors that were formed by elections that were only conducted in the Gaza Strip.
In view of the above:
