Groups Discuss occupation forces Violation with Europeans

Journalists and human rights groups Monday discussed with members of the Middle East committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) the prisoners issue, human rights violations and the status of Palestinian journalists.

During the meeting, which was held at the Legislative Council in Ramallah, the Palestinian delegation briefed PACE members on the prisoners issue and the need to highlight their worsening conditions.

Sahar Francis, director of the Prisoners Support and Human rights Association ‘Addameer’, said that the prisoners’ issue must be emphasized in future negotiations and “prisoners should be released as a sign of good will.”

Al-Haq director, Shawan Jabarin, called for a re-evaluation of the status quo and insisted that the European Union must ban settlement products from entering European markets and pressure Israel to change its policies.

Palestinian journalists briefed PACE on Israeli violation of their right for free movement and access to information.

They spoke of Israel’s policy of targeting journalists and the most recent arrest of cartoonist Muhammad Sabaaneh. They highlighted as well imprisonment of Palestinian Legislative Council members.

PACE members informed the attendees that they are currently drafting a report on the topic of administrative detention.

M.D