PA releases journalist, continues to hold activist over Facebook post

PA releases journalist, continues to hold activist over Facebook post
Sept. 6, 2017 5:07 P.M. (Updated: Sept. 6, 2017 5:07 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=778994

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Palestinian security forces released the director of a Hebron’s Manbar al-Hurriya radio station Ayman Qawasmeh on Wednesday, after he spent three days in detention for criticizing the Palestinian Authority (PA).
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After PA preventative security forces arrested the journalist on Sunday for the critical post, prominent Hebron-based activist Issa Amro took to Facebook himself to denounce Palestinian authorities, who had allegedly been threatening journalists not to publicize Qawasmeh’s arrest. Amro called on the PA to respect and protect international and domestic law.

Shortly after sharing the post, Amro was detained by the PA. On Wednesday, his detention was reportedly extended for an additional 24 hours, according to statement released Wednesday by Mada, a Palestinian NGO focused on media freedoms.

The organization also spoke with Qawasmeh after his release. He told Mada that after he had been summoned by the PA midday Sunday, he was immediately interrogated about his critical comments on the PA’s leadership.

“They asked me about the reason for posting this video, I replied that it was published in an angry moment after the radio equipment was destroyed and confiscated by the (Israeli) occupation forces,” Mada relayed.

“They actually understood my reasons,” Qawasmeh said. He explained that during the second day in jail on Monday, he signed his statement, and on Tuesday, his detention was extended for a fourth day. He was released 9 a.m. Wednesday with no conditions.

Mada said that they welcomed Qawasmeh’s release but demanded that Issa Amro be immediately released as well.(...)

PA releases Issa Amro on bail amid charges of ’causing strife’ over Facebook post
Sept. 10, 2017 9:35 P.M. (Updated: Sept. 11, 2017 1:54 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=779049

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Palestinian human rights activist Issa Amro, imprisoned for criticizing the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Facebook, was released from a PA detention center on a $1,400 bail.

Youth Against Settlement (YAS), a group based in the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron headed by Amro that is dedicated to non-violent resistance against the Israeli occupation, announced on their Facebook page that Amro had been released, though the charges against him had not been dropped.

Amro was arrested last week after turning himself into Palestinian security forces. PA officials had requested Amro to present himself to authorities over a Facebook post in which he denounced the PA for arresting the director of a Hebron’s Manbar al-Hurriya radio station Ayman Qawasmeh, who was released after three days of detention.

Amro criticized the PA for threatening journalists not to publicize Qawasmeh’s arrest — which took place after Qawasmeh posted on Facebook, calling for the resignation of the Palestinian president, prime minister, and Hebron’s governor — and called on the PA to respect and protect international and domestic law.

According to prisoners rights group Addameer, the charges against Amro include “causing strife” and a “broad accusation of criminal action” under the PA’s controversial Cyber Crimes Law.