Ref:51
/2010

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued
detention of Palestinian journalists by members of the security services in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which constitutes a grave violation of the right
to freedom of opinion, expression and press, as well as media freedoms, all of
which are ensured under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international
standards.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Monday morning, 21
June 2010, Nawwaf Ibrahim al-‘Amer, 48, Coordinator of Programs and Production
at al-Quds Satellite Channel, received a summons to appear before the General
Intelligence Service (GIS) in Nablus. Al-‘Amer’s wife stated to PCHR that at approximately 00:15, on Monday
morning, members of GIS came to their house in Kufor Qallil village in Nablus
and delivered a summons to her husband to come to the GIS headquarter in the
city. Al-‘Amer immediately went to the
GIS headquarter at al-Makhfiya neighborhood and from there he was immediately
transferred to Jnaid Prison. At
approximately 03:30, Al-‘Amer was released on condition that he returns to the
GIS headquarter on Tuesday morning, 22 June 2010. He went again to the headquarter at
approximately 08:30, where he was transferred to Jneid prison until he was
released at approximately 15:00. He was
released again on the condition that he returns on Wednesday morning, 23 June
2010. According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, Al-‘Amer was subjected to shabeh[1]
during detention, and he was handcuffed to the ceiling without being questioned
throughout his detention.

In the Gaza Strip, at approximately 8:00 on Monday morning, 21 June
2010, Nasser Fo’ad Abu Foul, 23, Correspondent of Meelad News Agency and the
Palestinian Network for Press and Media, went to the office of the Internal
Security Service (ISS) at Abu Khadra Security Compound in the center of Gaza
City, following a recent summons issued to him previously.  Abu Foul was questioned by ISS members
regarding his work as a journalist. He
was taken by the ISS to a photography shop in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and to
his cousin’s house nearby. There thr ISS
force confiscated two computers that Abu Foul uses for his work, and he was
then returned to the ISS office. At
approximately 13:00 on the same day, After his press and ID cards were
confiscated, Abu Foul was released on condition that he returns on Thursday 24
June 2010 to the ISS office.

In light of the above, PCHR:

1. Is gravely concerned
over repeated assaults on the right to freedom of expression and press
freedoms. PCHR further emphasizes the
need to offer journalists and media institutions the protection they need and
to take necessary measures to enable them to work freely in confirmation of the
right to freedom of expression and press freedoms;

2. Confirms that the
right to freedom of opinion and expression is ensured under the Palestinian Basic
Law and the international human rights instruments; and

3. Calls upon the
Palestinian Security Services to respect international human rights standards,
the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant laws.