Calls for PA to stop arresting journalists

The Syndicate of the Palestinian Journalists in Ramallah called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to stop arrested journalists and to abolish the electronic crime law, Quds Press reported yesterday.

In a press conference the head of the Syndicate of Palestinian Journalists, Nasser Abu Baker, said: “The situation of freedoms in Palestinian is regressing,” noting that the internal division plays a big role in this.

He said that the Syndication would exert efforts to push for the suspension of the electronic crime law which rights groups described as the “worst” law since the establishment of the PA in 1994.

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Syndicate member Omar Nazzal announced that a committee had been formed from 15 government and non-government groups that would discuss the law, noting the committee has the power to modify it.

Journalist Mamdouh Mahmoud Hamamrah, who was released from a PA prison on Monday, said he and his fellow detainees were beaten and tortured by Palestinian security services. They had been arrested because of their work.

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On Monday, the PA released six journalists after five days of detention on bail of 1,000 Jordanian dinars ($1,400) each.