Ramallah – 7 March 2011: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) appeals to all concerned authorities to end the suffering of journalist Alaa Al-Titi, following the repeated postponement of his trial at the Hebron Magistrate's Court since 4 November 2008 on charges of sedition in relation to his work with Al-Aqsa TV. The Court of Appeals in Hebron had previously affirmed his innocence in a decision taken by the Magistrate's Court on 24 April 2009; the prosecution however repealed the decision.

The Hebron Magistrate's Court Judge issued a decision yesterday to postpone Al-Titi’s twentieth trial until 4 April 2011, at the appeal of the prosecution who have requested another week to gather new evidence. This postponement of Al-Titi’s 6 March 2011 trial date follows a previous deferral from 18 January 2011, to give the prosecution more time to compile a case after their formal witness, Palestinian Legislative Council member Ali Abu Yata, testified for Al-Titi.

Al-Titi lawyer Hamza Awad objected the prosecution's request to postpone the court date and demanded the prosecution show the new evidence immediately; the judge however approved the prosecution’s request following their appeal for more time to collect evidence.

Al-Titi released a statement to MADA concerning the repeated postponement of his trail: “For more than 2 and a half years I have been going to the court, facing a new judge every 3 or 4 trails. The court has still not taken a decision on my case despite the fact I was previously found innocent of the same charges. The prosecution’s constant stalling is threatening my career. I ask the court to expedite the determination of this case in accordance with the overwhelming evidence of my innocence and the inability of the prosecution to present its case so I can move forward in my career."

Contact:

Riham Abu Aita
Public Relation Officer
Ramallah
riham@madacenter.org
www.madacenter.org