Are Palestinians Not Entitled to Human Rights?

by Bassam Tawil • November 25, 2019 at 5:00 am

"The protection of rights and freedoms requires that the right to human rights be guaranteed to judges. Judges have the right to express their opinions freely in the media and social media. Al-Haq, while condemning the violation of the right of judges to express their opinions freely, calls on [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas to ensure an environment conducive to the reform of the judiciary and the justice system in Palestine." – Al Haq, Palestinian human rights organization, based in Ramallah, West Bank.
These human rights violations continue in the face of the PA government's pledge to stop any violation of press freedoms. Ibrahim Milhem, spokesman for the PA government, was quoted earlier this year as saying: "The government will exert all efforts to make the media work environment in Palestine more open and free and to stop any violation of press freedoms."
Unless the Palestinians manage to rise up against their abusive and corrupt leaders -- which they can only do with the backing of the international community and media -- their hope of building a democratic society will remain nothing more than a dream.
The international community, particularly those countries that provide financial aid to the Palestinians, should at least speak out against human rights violations committed by Palestinian leaders. That way, the Western donors will embolden reformists and other Palestinians who are working to end corruption and dictatorship. The donors should also make their financial aid to the PA leadership conditional on halting human rights violations and persecution of political opponents.

Abdel Rahman Hamdan, who studies at Bir Zeit University (pictured), was recently detained by Palestinian Authority security forces, who have not given any reason for the detention. Hamdan's detention triggered a wave of protests by fellow students. His family has accused the PA security forces of torturing their son. (Image source: Oromiya321/Wikimedia Commons)

While Palestinian officials repeatedly condemn Israel for violating Palestinians' freedom of expression, it is actually the Palestinian Authority (PA) that continues to harass, intimidate and detain Palestinians for expressing their opinions on social media or being affiliated with rival political groups. Business as usual.

The latest victims of the PA's ongoing assault on public freedoms, particularly freedom of expression, are Palestinian lawyers, judges, political activists and university students.

The most recent accusation came after the Israeli authorities closed the offices of a television production company illegally operating in Jerusalem. The offices were shut in accordance with an Israeli law that bans the PA from operating in Israel, including Jerusalem.

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Iran Tortures Protesters, World Yawns

by Uzay Bulut • November 25, 2019 at 4:00 am

This internet blackout, according to Iran Human Rights director Amiry-Moghaddam, "might indicate the Iranian authorities' plans to use even more violence against the protesters."
On November 22, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Twitter: "The U.S. is sanctioning the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mohammad Jahromi, for helping shut down the Iranian internet. We will hold members of the Iranian regime accountable for their violent repression of the Iranian people. #Internet4Iran."
It is likely that Pompeo's warnings had a direct effect: the following day, on November 23, NetBlocks confirmed that: "[Internet] connectivity has been restored with multiple fixed-line providers across much of Iran, allowing users to get online via wifi."
To help the Iranian people, at the mercy of their oppressive regime, the world would do better to emulate the Trump administration's tough posture. European appeasement and diplospeak only embolden, rather than weaken, tyrants such as those in Iran.

On November 22, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Twitter: "The U.S. is sanctioning the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mohammad Jahromi, for helping shut down the Iranian internet. We will hold members of the Iranian regime accountable for their violent repression of the Iranian people. #Internet4Iran." Pictured: Pompeo on September 26, 2019. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The hundreds of anti-regime protesters and civil rights activists who have been arrested by Iranian security forces since the eruption of mass demonstrations on November 15 -- after the government raised the price of gasoline -- are in danger of torture, forced confessions and even death sentences.

According to the organization Iran Human Rights (IHR):

"The detainees are held in unknown places, and their families are not informed about their whereabouts. Moreover, there has been a total internet blackout imposed by the authorities making information flow very difficult.
"'Most of the detainees could not call their families. Their relatives have tried to find out where they are held. They even do not know their beloved ones are dead or alive,' a well-informed source told IHR."

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHE, said: "Today, Iranian people need the international community's attention, more than ever."

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