Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces prohibited a protest staged today against the controversial cybercrime law from reaching the Prime Minister’s office in Ramallah.
Dozens of journalists and activists participated in the protest against the law, which was called for by the National Coordinating Committee for the Defence of Public Freedom. The march started outside the Legislative Council in Ramallah and headed for the prime minister’s headquarters.
The protest was accompanied by a heavy security presence. Palestinian police officers and riot police prevented protesters from reaching the prime minister’s headquarters. Protesters carried signs calling for respect for freedom of speech and the abolishment of the cybercrime law.
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The National Coordinating Committee for the Defence of Public freedom issued a statement calling for the reunification of judicial systems in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip by establishing a single higher transitional justice committee that consists of experts known for their neutrality, transparency, and qualification.
The committee also called for rebuilding and restructuring a constitutional court that meets international standards and applies Palestinian laws. It also urged the judiciary to stop issuing legislation that deepens divisions between them.
