Al Jazeera Ban Must Be Lifted, Rights Experts Urge Palestinian Authority
January 13, 2025
Jerusalem – A group of international rights experts has called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to immediately lift its ban on the Al Jazeera news channel.
The ban, which has been in place since August 2022, has been widely condemned by human rights organizations and press freedom advocates. The PA has accused Al Jazeera of bias and of supporting Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip.
In a statement released on Friday, January 13, the experts said that the ban on Al Jazeera “violates international law and undermines the fundamental right to freedom of expression.”
“The PA has a duty to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression, including the right to access information,” the statement said. “The ban on Al Jazeera is a clear violation of this duty.”
The experts also noted that the ban is having a negative impact on Palestinian journalists and media outlets.
“The ban on Al Jazeera is sending a chilling message to Palestinian journalists and media outlets,” the statement said. “It is creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship.”
The experts called on the PA to “immediately lift the ban on Al Jazeera and to ensure that all journalists and media outlets in Palestine can operate freely and without fear of reprisal.”
The PA has not yet responded to the experts’ call.
Background
The PA banned Al Jazeera in August 2022 after the channel aired a documentary that was critical of the PA’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PA accused Al Jazeera of bias and of supporting Hamas.
Al Jazeera has denied these accusations and has said that it is committed to fair and impartial reporting.
The ban on Al Jazeera has been condemned by human rights organizations and press freedom advocates. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the PA to “immediately lift the ban on Al Jazeera and to allow the channel to operate freely in Palestine.”
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also called on the PA to lift the ban, saying that “the suppression of independent journalism is a threat to democracy.”
Analysis
The PA’s ban on Al Jazeera is a serious blow to press freedom in Palestine. The ban is part of a broader crackdown on dissent by the PA, which has also targeted human rights activists and political opponents.
The ban is also having a negative impact on Palestinian journalists and media outlets. The CPJ has documented several cases of Palestinian journalists being harassed, intimidated, and even arrested for their work.
The PA’s actions are a clear violation of international law and of the Palestinian people’s right to freedom of expression. The PA must immediately lift the ban on Al Jazeera and allow all journalists and media outlets in Palestine to operate freely and without fear of reprisal.
Al Jazeera ban must be lifted, rights experts urge Palestinian Authority
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