Israel: Palestinian journalist detained without charge or trial
| Publisher | Article 19 |
| Publication Date | 14 September 2011 |
| Cite as | Article 19, Israel: Palestinian journalist detained without charge or trial, 14 September 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e76ff782.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
ARTICLE 19 joins calls made by the International Federation of Journalists and Al Jazeera in strongly condemning the ongoing detention without charge of Palestinian-born Al Jazeera journalist, Samer Farik Mohammad Allawy. Since his arrest on 9 August 2011, no charges have been brought against him.
"ARTICLE 19 urges the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Samer Allawy. His ongoing detention without charge or trial and denial of access to his lawyer or a doctor, is simply unacceptable," said Dr Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director.
Allawy, current head of Al Jazeera's Kabul bureau in Afghanistan, was arrested by Israeli Occupation Forces 37 days ago, while crossing the Alkarameh/Allenby border from the West Bank to Jordan, after spending his annual vacation with family in Nablus city.
Recently, the Israel Prison Service was ordered to clarify its position over the ongoing detention of Allawy, who is being held in custody in the Kishon Detention Center after Samaria Military Court ruled that his detention will be extended to 11 days to continue the investigation.
As of 12 September 2011, Allawy has been denied access to his lawyer. Living with diabetes, he has also been prevented from seeing his doctor to monitor his ill health. In ordering the Prison Service to clarify its position regarding the matter, Judge Ron Shapira noted that although the military court ruled last month that Allawi should be referred for a medical examination, this has not yet happened.
Allawy's lawyer, Salim Wakim, told the Al Jazeera network on 7 September 2011 that "Samer is under investigation because of his alleged relationships with the Hamas movement."
ARTICLE 19 recalls that Allawy is a journalist and that international human rights standards protect the principle of journalistic sources as a principle of paramount importance to the free flow of information. It is important to remind the authorities that as a journalist he is entitled to meet with Hamas and that he should protect his sources both in Kabul or elsewhere.
Allawy is the 16th journalist working for Al Jazeera to be arrested in 2011, around the world.
