Election Update No.4

Date: 18 January 2006

Election Update

No. 4

Date: 18 January 2006

Violations of Electoral Campaigns Regulations

Hamas' Al-Aqsa Television Broadcasts from a Mosque

On 9 January 2006, the al-Aqsa Television station of Hamas initiated its experimental broadcast from a broadcasting station established on the third floor of al-Bashir Mosque in Tal al-Za'tar neighborhood in Jabalya.  PCHR observers noticed that the station broadcast the election campaign of the Change and Reform Electoral List affiliated to Hamas, including slogans and other programs used for the election campaign. 

Elections Law No. 9 of 2005 prohibits the use of mosques, churches, hospitals and buildings of governmental and public institutions in election campaigns. 

PCHR calls upon Hamas to commit to the regulations of the election campaign, to stop broadcasting its television station from the mosque and not to use mosques in its election campaign. 

Al-Bashir Mosque in Tal al-Za'tar area in Jabalya atop of which al-Aqsa Television Broadcast

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