The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demands an end to the journalists’ arrest policy and the release of the photojournalist Osaid Abdul Majid Amarneh (age 30); who was arrested by the Palestinian Preventive Security Forces yesterday for “Inciting sectarian strife”. His detention was extended by the General Prosecution for 48 hours.

Amarne reported to MADA yesterday: “On 22/2/2015 I received a phone call from the Preventive Security in Bethlehem telling me to go to their headquarters, I refused to go until I tell the Syndicate about it. They called me again on the next day at 10:30 and told me to go to their headquarters urgently; then I told them that I am a cameraman and the syndicate represents me; therefore, they decide whether I should go or not. But they told me that the interrogation is not related to my work as a cameraman ; which already happened several times in the past and they interrogate me about my work.”

Amarneh’s father reported to MADA today: “Osaid headed off to the Preventive Security Forces headquarters yesterday at 4:00 pm in Bethlehem. They interrogated him about his professional work, and, today he appeared to the General Prosecution office; which extended his detention for another 48 hours with the accusation of “inciting sectarian strife”.”