Al Jazeera Ban Must Be Lifted, Rights Experts Urge Palestinian Authority
January 13, 2025
Ramallah, West Bank – A group of international human rights experts have called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to lift its ban on Al Jazeera, the Qatari-based news network.
The ban was imposed in August 2022, following a diplomatic dispute between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE accused Qatar of supporting terrorism, a charge that Qatar has denied.
In its resolution, the group of experts said that the ban on Al Jazeera “violates the right to freedom of expression and the right to information.” The experts also expressed concern that the ban “is part of a broader pattern of restrictions on freedom of expression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.”
The Palestinian Authority has not yet responded to the call from the human rights experts. However, a spokesperson for the PA has previously said that the ban on Al Jazeera is necessary to protect national security.
The ban on Al Jazeera has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the PA to “immediately lift the ban on Al Jazeera.” The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also condemned the ban, saying that it “is a clear violation of the right to press freedom.”
The ban on Al Jazeera has also been criticized by some Palestinian journalists. A group of Palestinian journalists have signed a petition calling on the PA to lift the ban. The petition states that “the ban on Al Jazeera is a blow to the freedom of the press in Palestine.”
The Palestinian Authority has a history of restricting freedom of expression. In recent years, the PA has arrested and detained several journalists who have been critical of the government. The PA has also banned several websites and social media accounts that have been critical of the government.
The ban on Al Jazeera is the latest in a series of restrictions on freedom of expression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The PA has also imposed restrictions on the activities of human rights organizations and political parties.
The restrictions on freedom of expression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been condemned by international human rights organizations. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has called on the PA to “respect the right to freedom of expression.” The European Union (EU) has also expressed concern about the restrictions on freedom of expression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The PA has defended its restrictions on freedom of expression, saying that they are necessary to protect national security. However, human rights organizations have argued that the PA’s restrictions on freedom of expression are excessive and that they violate international human rights law.
Al Jazeera ban must be lifted, rights experts urge Palestinian Authority
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