People's Rights Magazine - August 1997

To the Editors of People’s Rights,

I never knew that your magazine would cause embarrassment until I was stopped at an Israeli checkpoint during the recent siege of the territories.

On 5 August 1997, I was going to work in Tulkarem. I was accompanied by my friend Nabil Hudhud who decided to try one of the bypass roads specially constructed for settlers. At the Inab checkpoint, we were asked to return, so we took another road via Beit Leed / Tukarem which we travelled along for 2 hours.

After work Nabil decided to take another path leading through the Beit Faron checkpoint. When we got there, we were searched and asked many questions. The worst was when one of the soldiers caught sight of People’s Rights magazine. He took it and asked if it was anti Israel. I told him that it was against nobody. He inquired about the photos inside and he asked me to translate into English. He told me that the magazine was total nonsense. I said that every body has his own interpretation. He said that he could charge me with possession of provocative material. I told him that the magazine has an address, an editing board and a license. Later, he inquired about the photo on the cover and the last page. We were searched for two hours. He then asked us to leave and never come back again or else he would detain us for breaking the rules of the siege.

Abdil Lateef Alawneh

Another letter came from Askalan prison inquiring whether the PNA had given the green light for our publication.

To the Editors of People’s Rights,

I have been very impressed by your magazine. I hope you will maintain the same high standard. Most of the inmates in prison congratulate you for your guts. However, many of us here, including myself ask whether the PNA has actually licensed the magazine. Can it be possible that the PNA could have given the green light for such a publication? Nevertheless, we wish you the best success and we hope that the magazine will enlighten our people, rectify the crooked, and fight the corruption.

Answer

In response to your inquiry about the magazine, we would like to point out that the magazine is issued by the NGO LAW Society, in Jerusalem. The magazine is licensed by the Palestinian Ministry of Information. The main target of the magazine is to preserve the rule of law in Palestine.

The presence of our magazine is simply a reflection of the democracy for which we have all fought for during the last decades. The voice of People’s Rights is the voice of its own readers and those whose rights have been violated.

Yours Respectfully

The Editing Board
Return to contents August 1997