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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 38/2003

Date: 19 March 2003

PCHR calls for reopening al-Resala Weekly  PCHR is deeply concerned as the Palestinian police ordered closure of al-Resala Weekly, and calls upon the Palestinian Authority to immediately reopen it and allow it to work without restrictions.  PCHR believes that this action violates the Palestinian Basic Law of 2002, Press Law of 1995 and the rights to free expression and press. 

Al-Resala, a weekly newspaper issued in Gaza city, is licensed in accordance with law, and belongs to the Islamic National Salvation Party.  For years, the newspaper was subjected to arbitrary measures by the Palestinian police for its views and reports, and this is the third time for it to be closed. 

Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper Dr. Ghazi Hamad stated to PCHR that at approximately 11:00 on Monday, 17 March 2003, he received a phone call from the Palestinian police summoning him.  At the police station, Dr. Hamad was asked about the reasons of resuming work at the newspaper although it had been already closed by a police order.  He was informed that the newspaper was closed again upon an order by the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. 

It is worth noting that the Palestinian police closed the newspaper on 18 March 2001 without any judicial order, in violation of the Palestinian Press Law.  PCHR followed up this case before the Palestinian High Court of Justice, which ordered on 25 April 2002 its immediate reopening.  However, the police did not comply with the order, in violation of the law, so its staff decided to re-issue it starting from 31 October 2002, in accordance with the court order, until the police re-closed it on 17 March 2003. 

PCHR reiterates its call upon the Palestinian Authority to reopen al-Resala Weekly, and to make sure that any step against it to be taken in accordance with the law.  While the issue of reform in the Palestinian Authority is being increasingly addressed, the decision to close the newspaper in violation of the law does not in any case serve to achieve reform. 

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 7 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. Web:http://www.pchrgaza.org