Ref: 32/2010
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns
restrictions imposed and arbitrary actions an taken by the Palestinian General
Intelligence Service (GIS) in the West Bank against Muhannad Salahat, a writer,
journalist and human rights activist. PCHR also condemns the arrest of writer
Walid al-Hodali, from his home by the Preventive Security Service (PSS), which
has not reversed the confiscation of al-Hodali’s personal computer after his
release. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian security services to respect
international human rights standards, the Palestinian Basic Law and other
relevant laws applicable in areas under the rule of the Palestinian Authority.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and a statement given
by Muhannad ‘Adnan ‘Aziz Salahat, 29, who is from Tallouza village, north of
Nablus, Salahat was subjected to a series of illegal actions. He was arrested
and prevented from traveling and summoned to appear before GIS interrogators.
According to Salahat’s statement, illegal actions taken against him are as
follows:
- At
approximately 22:00 on Thursday, 28 March 2010, Salahat was arrested by
GIS in the Palestinian Crossings and Search Center in Jericho. He was
interrogated there several times. In the first sessions, interrogators
refused to inform him of the charges against him. In the following
sessions, he was questioned about his writings and about documentary films
that were produced by a Jordanian company for al-Jazeera television. He
was questioned about “crimes and grave errors that he committed
against the Palestinian national project, represented by the Palestinian
Authority”. During the detention and interrogation period, Salahat
was maltreated and forced to open his e-mail inbox to allow GIS to read
e-mails he had received. He was released on 12 April 2010. GIS held his
laptop and camera, as well as an external hard drive that contained
documentary films. GIS required Salahat to call all his friends and ask
them to end the media campaign that they launched against the Palestinian
Authority.
- Salah was
summoned to appear before GIS on 13 April 2010 to receive his laptop, camera and hard drive, but
no one met with him and he was asked to come back in the following day. He
stated that he received his belonging back from the GIS on 15 April 2010,
but found that the GIS had deleted 23 hours of video footage from his hard
drive.
- At approximately
09:30 on Monday, 19 April 2010, Salahat arrived in Jericho because he
planned to travel to Jordan. He was surprised when a police officer who
checked his passport told him he was not permitted to travel. He was told
the matter had to be checked with the GIS, which had made the decision to
prevent him from traveling. He stated that the police officer allowed him
to cross to Jordan, but that he was then stopped by a Jordanian officer
who told him that he was prevented from entering Jordan in response to a
request from the Palestinian Authority. He was forced to return to the
West Bank.
- On Monday,
26 April 2010, Salahat received a notice requiring him to appear before
GIS in Nablus at 08:00 on Saturday, 1 May 2010. The officer who delivered
the notice to Salahat warned him that a failure to appear at the specified
time and on the specified date, would result in the issuing of an arrest
warrant against him.
PCHR notes that Muhannad Salahat is a writer, journalist and
producer of documentary films. He is also a member of the Palestinian
Association for Human Rights (RASED).
In a second incident, at approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 26 April
2010, PSS arrested Walid Ibrahim al-Hodali, 50, a writer, from his house in
al-Teira neighborhood of Ramallah after searching his house and confiscating
his personal computer. Al-Hodali was transferred to the PSS headquarters, where
he was interrogated about his political affiliations for one hour. He was then
returned to his home. Al-Hodali reported that, at the time of the publication
of this press release, his computer had not been returned to him.
In view of the above, PCHR:
- Points
out, with grave concern, the re-occurrence of attacks against the right to
freedom of expression and press freedoms. Emphasizing the right to freedom
of expression and press freedoms, the Centre stresses the importance of
providing protection to journalists as well as media and human rights
activists, and of taking all necessary measures to allow them to perform
their work freely.
- Affirms
that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed under
the Palestinian Basic Law and under international human rights
instruments.
- Emphasizes
that preventing a civilian from travelling without an order issued by the
General Prosecutor is a flagrant violation of the principle of the freedom
of movement.
- Calls upon
Palestinian security services to respect international human rights
standards, the Palestinian Basic Law and other relevant laws.
