Ramallah – 19th August 2013: the Palestinian center for development and media freedoms (MADA) expresses concern from the effect of the events in Egypt on media freedoms status in Palestine, where several violations has been monitored in the West Bank and Gaza since the beginning of the current month.

Mousa Rimawi the general director of MADA stated: “the repercussions of these events must not be used as an excuse for any Palestinian to gag the press, and we must all remember that freedom of expression is a basic right for all journalists and citizens”.

Rimawi added: “Since the beginning of the events we have witnessed sevaral violations, starting with the closer of Alarabia and Ma’an offices in Gaza, then a demonstration in front of Ma’an office several days ago, and the threat of the writer Yahya Rabahwith arrest for what he posted on his facebook. In the West Bank, were the security forces suppressed a protest against the Disengagement of Egyptian protest in Rabaa El Adaweyaand Alnahda “that were followed with bloody events”, Palestinian journalists were prevented from covering the protest in the hebron city south of  West Bank and were insulted verbally”.

Rimawi assures that these violations constitute a clear violation of the Palestinian laws that guarantees freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and which banned the closer of media outlets without a court decision, and that this escalation will lead to a serious deterioration of public freedoms in Palestine and will lead to enhancing self-censorship, where journalists and citizens will fear to express their opinions freely, whether through traditional media, blogs, or social networks.

Rimawi explained that suppressing the media will not solve the problem and will not push any side to back down from having an opinion regarding the events in Egypt, and although the difference of opinion is a healthy phenomenon, yet it is clear that it has depend the differences in Palestine and tensioned the relations between Fatah and Hamas, making the reconciliation a fantasy.

We (MADA) demand everyone to respect freedom of expression and the right for peaceful assembly, and to spear Palestinian journalists, citizens, and media outlets any more suffering and restriction in their lives.