PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release
 
Ref: 5/2008
Date: 17 January 2008
Time: 12:15 GMT
 
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 is motivated by the fact he is 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 is motivated by 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.
 
Public Document
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage www.pchrgaza.org