Press Release

May 30 2000
Press Release Index
Al-Haq Expresses Concern over the PNA’s Persistent Obstruction of Palestinian’s Right to Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly
Al-Haq is concerned over the latest wave of violations committed against the Palestinian people’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the Palestinian Autonomous areas. Over the past few weeks the Palestinian people have witnessed a series of actions committed by the security forces of the PNA that threaten the Palestinians' right to freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful assembly. These actions include
· May 5, the closure of al-Hubb wa Salaam (Love and Peace) radio station;
· May 21, the closure of Watan television station;
· May 30, the Naser Television and Al-Manara radio stations were closed by the Criminal Investigation Unit in Ramallah by a verbal decision (unwritten);
· The arrest of active members of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) in Al-Bireh and the Ramallah area following the funeral of the martyr, Issa Abed; 
· June 2, the closure of the Bethlehem television station Al-Mahd, and the subsequent arrest of its director, Samir Qumsiyeh, who is the head of the union of private radio/television broadcast stations. Samir Qumsiyeh recently issued a statement requesting that all broadcast stations protest recent closures by halting broadcasts for one half hour and showing a black screen in its place.    

Watan, Love and Peace and Al-Manara were later re-opened, also with a verbal decision.

In the Palestinian Law of Press and Information (1995), it states that closure can only be implemented after a judicial decision, not by arbitrary decisions. Al-Haq urges the PLC to intervene to demand that the Executive Authority stop these violations and respect the role of the judiciary and the existing laws.

These actions contravene numerous international human rights conventions and principles, namely Article 19 and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 19 and 20 of the UDHR state: 

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Al-Haq views these actions as dangerous precedents violating numerous international safeguards which guarantee one’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Al-Haq calls upon the PNA to exercise all of the necessary measures to guarantee one the right to freedom of expression and assembly and to halt their campaign of media closures and widespread arrests. 

Al-Haq calls upon concerned parties to contact the Minister of Information, Yasser Abed Raboo at (02) 298-6465 and fax: (02) 295-4043/298-6466