Ramallah – 24th April 2014: the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) began the 1st day of its specialized workshop on freedom of expression for Palestinian Judges, which was organized in collaboration with thePalestinian Supreme Judicial Council in Ramallah city today, as part of MADA’s 2014-2015 project “A turning point in defending media freedoms through a healthy legal environment” that is funded by the European Union.
Judge Fared Aljalad, the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, opened the workshop with a speech reassuring the right to freedom of expression as a constitutional right and in accordance with the provisions of the law; He stated that enhancing freedom of expression in Palestine greatly depends on civil society institutes working for Human rights such as MADA. Mr. Aljalad added that the Judicial Council respects journalists and their work, and hopes that the legal concept of freedom of opinion and expression is clear to all journalists.
MADA’s general director Mr. Mousa Rimawi welcomed all judges, then expressed MADA’s optimism and joy after the Palestinian conciliation, especially after all the division has caused the Palestinian media and journalists from suffering, which added to their ongoing suffering from the continues life threatening Israeli occupation violations of Palestinian human rights and freedom of expression.
Mr. Rimawi stated “We are believers of the importance for the independence of the judiciary, away from any external influences or pressures, and we see that the Palestinian judiciary despite the heavy burden inherited from the occupation, yet it accomplished so much towards building its capacity, and we highly appreciate all the decisions and steps aimed to develop the work of the judiciary, in which we see justice and the defense of human rights”.
Mr. Rimawi expressed the center’s gratitude by the Judicial council decision to point 12 judges specialized to look into freedom of expression cases in September 2012, which strengthens the trend of specialization, especially since the issues related to freedom of expression are of a special and very sensitive nature.
The workshop will be implemented in 2 days, which through the judicial and freedom of expression relationship will be reviewed and discussed, in addition to the right to access information status in Palestine, as well as the legal regulation of media and journalism in Palestine and its effects on freedom of expression and opinion.
