S&D Members protest against the detention of Palestinian human rights defender Issa Amro
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The S&D Group protests against the arrest and detention of respected Palestinian human rights defender Issa Amro and calls for his immediate release.
S&D Group vice-presidents Elena Valenciano and Victor Bostinaru said:
"The S&D Group strongly protests against the detention of renown Palestinian human rights defender Issa Amro, and we call for his immediate release. His arrest gives an alarming message about negative trends regarding the respect for fundamental freedoms, in particular the freedom of expression, by authorities and security forces in Palestine.
"The recently introduced Electronic Crimes Law, which goes against international standards and the Palestinian Authorities' international obligations, has been followed by a wave of shutting down websites and arresting journalists and activists over the past weeks. This law must be repealed or fundamentally revised, and the harassment of media and civil society representatives must be stopped immediately.
"We continue to support the policy of non-violent struggle led by President Abbas to create an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state in the spirit of the two-state solution. But occupation cannot be an excuse for breaching fundamental freedoms with the aim of silencing critical voices and dissent. Cases of repression of journalists and activists undermine the credibility of the Palestinian leadership in the international community.
MEPs INVOLVED
VALENCIANO MARTÍNEZ-OROZCO Elena
+32(0)2 28 45846
+33(0)3 88 1 75846
http://www.socialistasparlamentoeuropeo.eu/
BOŞTINARU Victor
+32 2 284 58 32
+33 3 88 17 58 32
S&D PRESS CONTACT
KOMODROMOS, Dimitris
dimitris.komodromos@ep.europa.eu
+33 3 88 17 46 98
+32 2 283 14 59