PHOTOS: Palestinian journalist held in administrative detention

Activestills By Activestills April 24, 2015 | Edit

Israel is currently imprisoning and detaining 20 Palestinian journalists, group says.

Palestinian journalists and activists protest against Israel’s detention of journalist Amin Abu Wardeh, Nablus, April 21, 2015. (Ahmad Al-Bazz/ Activestills.org)
Palestinian journalists and activists protest against Israel’s detention of journalist Amin Abu Wardeh, Nablus, April 21, 2015. (Ahmad Al-Bazz/ Activestills.org)

Photos and text by Ahmad Al-Bazz/ Activestills.org

Palestinian journalists and activists protested against the administrative detention of Palestinian journalist Amin Abu Wardeh earlier this week. The demonstrators stood outside the Red Cross offices in the West Bank city of Nablus and demanded that the organization intervene and help release him.

Israel is currently imprisoning and detaining 20 Palestinian journalists, according to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate. Abu Wardeh was also arrested in 2011 and held under administrative detention for 10 months. He runs the Asda’ news website.

Israeli forces arrested Abu Wardeh in the early morning hours of April 15 during a large arrest campaign that saw 27 Palestinian civilians arrested in Nablus and its suburbs. Those targeted in the arrest campaign included former prisoners, a journalist, engineers, university lecturers and the wife of a former prisoner. The majority are members of Hamas.

Palestinians described the arrest campaign as a political step, while Israel claimed the detainees had recently been involved in “Hamas activity.”

Under Israel’s “emergency regulations,” the state can hold Palestinians without charge or trial under administrative detention for six-month periods, which can be renewed indefinitely. Most administrative detainees do not know of what they are accused, and have no way of defending themselves.

Under international law, administrative detention should only be used in the most extreme cases.

According to Palestinian sources, the soldiers also seized tens of thousands of shekels in cash, a vehicle, laptops, cellphones.

Related:
IDF: Nothing illegal in Gaza strike that killed three journalists
Who will protect Palestinian journalists?
Editorial: Demanding freedom of movement and access for Palestinian journalists

Activestills

Activestills is a collective of Israeli, Palestinian, and international photographers, united by a conviction that photography is a vehicle for political and social change. We believe in the power of images to shape public attitudes and to raise awareness on issues that are generally absent from public discourse. We view ourselves as part of the struggle against all forms of oppression, racism, and violations of the basic right to freedom. Our images are frequently published by many leading human rights, development, and advocacy agencies, as well as by alternative and leading news media. To stay updated on our latest images, like Activestills on Facebook or visit our Flickr photostream.

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