September 17, 1999
His Excellency Yasser Arafat
President
Palestinian National Authority
Al-Muntada, Gaza
Your Excellency,
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to express its deep concern about the arrest of Maher al-Dessouki, a television journalist with the independent Al-Quds Educational TV station.
On the morning of September 15, Palestinian Preventive Security Services (PSS) agents arrested al-Dessouki in the West Bank city of Ramallah. According to the Jerusalem-based Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), he was accused by Palestinian authorities of “possessing material inciting against the PNA.”
To date, Palestinian security officials have failed to provide any details about the reasons for al-Dessouki’s arrest. Responding to questions about whether al-Dessouki had been arrested in response to his journalistic work, PSS chief Jabril Rajoub told Reuters that the journalist had been arrested for “dangerous security reasons related to the general security situation.” Al-Dessouki has reportedly been denied access to legal counsel.
Some Palestinian journalists suspect that the arrest came in response to Sunday’s edition of a weekly program al-Dessouki hosts on Al-Quds Educational TV. In the broadcast, al-Dessouki conducted live interviews with Palestinians whose family members were not included in last week’s prisoner release by Israel. The mother of one prisoner criticized Your Excellency sharply on air.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-governmental organization of journalists dedicated to defending press freedom worldwide, urges the immediate and unconditional release of Maher al-Dessouki, unless it can be shown that he has committed a criminal offense recognizable under international law. If he is guilty of a criminal offense, we urge the Palestinian Authority to release the specific charges against him and guarantee his right to due process, including access to legal counsel.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
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His Excellency Yasser Arafat
President
Palestinian National Authority
Al-Muntada, Gaza