PEN welcomes the release, on November 8, 2017, of prominent Palestinian journalist Muhammed al-Qiq. He had been detained by Israeli authorities for almost one year under administrative detention following his arrest on January 15, 2017 at an Israeli checkpoint. During his detention, al-Qiq went on many hunger strikes in protest of his conditions of detention and to negotiate his release.

PEN reiterates its call upon the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention with immediate effect, including of journalists and other writers.

Take action!

Please send appeals:

  • Welcoming the release of Muhammed al-Qiq; 
  • Calling for the release all journalists and other writers held under administrative detention if they are not to be charged with an internationally recognizable criminal offense and tried in proceedings adhering to international standards;
  • Requesting an end to the use of administrative detention orders as they violate the right to a fair and prompt trial

Write to:

Military Judge Advocate General
Brigadier General Sharon Afek
Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel
Fax: +972 3 569 4526
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Judge Advocate General

Commander of the IDF – West Bank
Major-General Roni Numa
GOC Central Command
Military Post 01149, Battalion 877
Israel Defense Forces, Israel
Fax: +972 2 530 5741, +972 2 530 5724
Salutation: Dear Major-General Roni Numa

Minister of Public Security
Gilad Erdan
Kiryat Hamemshala
PO Box 18182
Jerusalem 91181, Israel
Fax: +972 2 584 7872
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister

Copy your appeals to the Embassy of Israel in your country. Please inform PEN of any action you take, and of any responses you receive. 

PEN members are also encouraged to publish articles and opinion pieces in your national or local press highlighting the use of administrative detention by Israel to detain journalists.

Background

Muhammed al-Qiq, from Ramallah in the West Bank, has been detained repeatedly as part of the Israeli government’s practice of administrative detention – a form of detention without charge or trial imposed for periods of up to six months, renewable an infinite number of times – and has undertaken several hunger strikes in response. The journalist was first arrested in November 2015, resulting in him embarking upon his first hunger strike which led to the deterioration of his health. On February 4, 2016, Israel’s Supreme Court “suspended” the administrative detention of al-Qiq, noting the severe deterioration of his health (for more information on this episode, please see RAN 03/16). After his release, al-Qiq was hospitalized in order to monitor his health condition. On January 15, 2017, al-Qiq was re-arrested at an Israeli checkpoint; as a consequence, he undertook two other hunger strikes before his release on November 8, 2017.

PEN has been campaigning for al-Qiq, as well as for the release of all Palestinian writers and journalists who are unfairly imprisoned in Israel, in violation of their right to freedom of expression and opinion. To read our previous statement related to this case, click here. 

For any further information, please contact Nael Georges, PEN International, Koops Mill Mews, 162-164 Abbey Street, London SE1 2AN | Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 0338 | Email: [email protected]