Election Update No.12

Date: 21 January 2006

Violations of Electoral Campaigns Regulations

Mosque Sermons Openly Call for Voting for the “Change and Reform List”

PCHR observers have reported that dozens of Imams committed campaign violations during Friday Prayer sermons on 20 January 2006.  The Imams openly called upon worshippers to vote for the Change and Reform List candidates in their districts.  The Change and Reform List is affiliated to Hamas.  

The violations included:

·  Al-Sousi Mosque in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City: The Imam called for voting for the Change and Reform List, and defamed other lists.  Some worshippers objected and a commotion ensued in the mosque.  Some of the worshipers brought the Imam down from the pulpit before he finished the sermon.  The situation almost deteriorated into a fight inside and outside the mosque.

·  A mosque in al-Zahra Town, south of Gaza City: The Imam called for worshippers to vote for the Change and Reform List.  Some of those attending became angry and one hurled a water bottle at the Imam.  A commotion ensued inside the mosque.

These acts violate Elections Law No. 9 of 2005, which prohibits the use mosques for campaigning activities, including hanging posters on walls and using sermons to call for voting for certain candidates or parties.

PCHR calls upon all candidates to stop such campaigning activities and to comply with the regulations of election campaigns to ensure the fairness of elections.  

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