Al Jazeera Ban Must Be Lifted, Rights Experts Urge Palestinian Authority
January 13, 2025
Jerusalem – A group of UN human rights experts have called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to immediately lift its ban on the Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera.
The ban, which was imposed in August 2022, has been widely condemned by human rights groups and press freedom organizations. The PA has accused Al Jazeera of bias against it and of supporting its political rivals.
In a statement released today, the experts said that the ban “violates the right to freedom of expression and access to information” and that it “stifles critical journalism and debate.”
“The Palestinian Authority must immediately lift the ban on Al Jazeera and allow the network to operate freely in the occupied Palestinian territories,” the experts said.
The experts also expressed concern about the PA’s recent crackdown on other media outlets and journalists. In recent months, the PA has closed down several independent media outlets and arrested several journalists.
“The Palestinian Authority must respect the right to freedom of expression and ensure that journalists are able to work without fear of reprisals,” the experts said.
The PA has not yet responded to the experts’ call to lift the ban on Al Jazeera.
Background
The PA imposed the ban on Al Jazeera in August 2022 after the network broadcast a documentary that was critical of the PA’s handling of the death of a Palestinian activist. The PA accused Al Jazeera of bias against it and of supporting its political rivals.
Al Jazeera has denied the allegations and has called on the PA to lift the ban. The network has also filed a legal challenge to the ban in the Palestinian courts.
The ban on Al Jazeera has been widely condemned by human rights groups and press freedom organizations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has called on the PA to lift the ban, saying that it “violates the right to freedom of expression.”
The ban has also been criticized by the United States and the European Union. The US State Department has called on the PA to “respect freedom of the press” and to “lift the ban on Al Jazeera.”
Impact of the Ban
The ban on Al Jazeera has had a significant impact on the media landscape in the occupied Palestinian territories. Al Jazeera was one of the few independent news outlets that operated in the territories.
The ban has also made it more difficult for Palestinians to access information about their own government and about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Calls for the Ban to Be Lifted
Human rights groups and press freedom organizations have called on the PA to lift the ban on Al Jazeera. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the US State Department, and the European Union have all urged the PA to respect freedom of the press and to lift the ban.
The PA has not yet responded to these calls.
Al Jazeera ban must be lifted, rights experts urge Palestinian Authority
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