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Press Release
Palestinian High Court Demands Explanation for Closure of Newspaper
Ref: 14/2002
Date: 11 February 2002
After hearing arguments in court from PCHR lawyers, the Palestinian High Court on 11 February gave the Attorney General of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) eight days to explain the closure of al-Risala newspaper by Palestinian police.
Al-Risala is a licenced weekly publication issued by the National Islamic Salvation Party. On 18 December 2001, Palestinian police sealed the newspaper’s offices and announced the closure in red paint sprayed on the exterior of the building. The closure was carried out without any investigation from the Attorney General’s office, or any court decision.
According to the 1995 Press Law enacted by the PNA, responsibility for investigating any suspected wrongdoing by press organisations lies with the Attorney General’s office and publications can only be closed by court order. The actions of the Palestinian police violate both of these conditions.
This is the second time that the newspaper has been closed by the PNA. It was also unlawfully closed in 1997. At the time, the High Court of Justice, after an intervention by PCHR lawyers, set a precedent by ruling the closure to be a misuse of power in violation of the Basic Law of 1962 and the Press Law of 1995.
PCHR is deeply concerned by the continued closure of al-Risala by the Palestinian police and considers it a violation of the right of the freedom to expression. PCHR welcomes the decision of the High Court and looks forward to the immediate reopening of the newspaper in accordance with the law.
