Press Releases

 

Ref: 05/2008

Date: 17 January  2008

Time: 12:15 GMT

 

PCHR Concerned over the Detention of Munir Riziq, Director of Al-Hayyat Newspaper in Gaza 

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is extremely concerned over the detention of Munir Abu Riziq, Director of Al-Hayyat Newspaper in Gaza, on Tuesday 15 January 2008. Munir Abu Riqiq has been detained by the Internal Security Apparatus, and PCHR is concerned that his detention might be because of his work as a journalist.

Preliminary investigations carried out by PCHR indicate that, at approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 15 January, several members of the dismissed government’s Internal Security Apparatus detained 40 year old Abu Riziq as he left his house in Mousa Arafat Building, in the Tal El-Hawa Quarter of southern Gaza City. Abu Riziq was taken to El-Mashtal Detention Centre north of Beach Camp in the western part of the city.

The police in Gaza made two previous recent attempts to arrest and detain Abu Riziq. On 13 January, a contingent of police arrived at his house, but did not find him there. The following day, a large number of Internal Security Apparatus members raided the office of Al-Hayat Newspaper in  the center of Gaza City. However, a crowd of journalists converged in the area, and prevented them from arresting Abu Rizaq. According to Abu Riziq’s brother, Sayyed (36) who works as a security officer in the Al-Hayyat newspaper office, one of the security officers threatened Abu Riziq, “You will pay the price for this gathering." as they were withdrawing from the second failed arrest attempt. Later in the day on 14 January, the Internal Security Apparatus detained Abu Rizaq's brother, Mo’in (33), who also works in Al-Hayyat newspaper, as the Administrative Director. They questioned him for two hours, and threatened not to release him unless his brother surrendered.  

In light of these developments, PCHR:

  1. Expresses its concern that the detention of Munir Abu Riziq might be because of his work as a journalist in Al-Hayyat Newspaper in Gaza.
  2. Affirms the right to freedom of expression that is guaranteed by the Basic Law and international human rights standards.
  3. Stresses the need for respecting legal procedures of detention according to the Palestinian Law, which are the sole responsibility of law enforcement officers represented by the civilian police force under order and supervision of the Attorney-General.