The Palestinian Authority has blocked 59 Palestinian and Arabic websites, including Quds News Network sites, following a decision by a local Magistrate’s Court.
Palestinians are angered at the decision which was revealed yesterday, as not a single site on the blocked list is Israeli.
The Center for Human Rights and Democracy strongly condemned the Palestinian Authority's decision to ban 59 Palestinian Facebook pages and websites. pic.twitter.com/mETWSksct5
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 22, 2019
Quds News challenged the PA’s decision to block its website for “harming civil peace”. According to the news network this move “reflects the [PA’s] repression of the press.”
Mariam Barghouti, a Palestinian American writer based in Ramallah, expressed her frustration at the consistent suppression of Palestinian voices.
This is the list of the websites blocked by the Palestinian Court today under the cyber crimes law issued in 2018. #Palestine
The Palestinian people know that political factions and leadership continue to suppress rather than support their people. pic.twitter.com/fjt3TwC5n2
— مريم البرغوثي (@MariamBarghouti) October 21, 2019
Headed by judge Mohammed Hussein, the court’s decision issued last week claimed that such sites which publish pictures and articles threaten Palestinian national security and civil peace, as well as disrupt public order and morals, and arouse Palestinian public opinion.
The #Palestinian Authority has #Blocked 59 #Palestinian and Arabic #Websites, including Quds News Network sites, following a decision by a local Magistrate’s #Court. Palestinians are angered at the decision which was revealed yesterday, as not a … https://t.co/5pzjz6nTFL pic.twitter.com/zdkqcPco9v
— ⓵ⒷⓊⓋ??? (@_1BUV) October 22, 2019
Hossam Badran, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, accused the court of “burying its head in the sand in its attempts to prevent freedom of expression, returning the [Palestinian] national press to the darkness sought by the Israeli occupation.”
He called on the PA to respect international law and conventions that guarantee freedom of opinion and expression, and the right of every citizen to have access to information and expression.
The head of the Palestinian Commission for Human Rights, Ammar Dweik, says that his organization will appeal against the ruling, which “restricts free reporting and free speech.”
(Middle East Monitor, PC, Social Media)
