Arrest of Palestinian Journalist Nazzal Extended

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Confederation of Progressive Labour Unions of Turkey - Press Labour (DİSK - Basın İş) has demonstrated against the three-months extension of Palestinian journalist Ömer Nazzal’s arrest who was supposed to be released yesterday in Israel.

Ömer Nazzal, was arrested on the border of West Bank and Jordan while he was about to get on the plane to attend the conference held by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Bosnia in April.

Israeli courts had ordered to arrest Nazzal for four months at that time. According to the report of The Guardian daily, Nazzal was arrested on charges of taking illegal action on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

DİSK - Press Labor states that the decision is not based on any accusation or evidence.

Arrest order was issued on Nazzal whose administrative detention ended yesterday (August 22) and was expected to be released.

Ömer Nazzal (54) was claimed to be the director of Falestin el-Yum TV channel, which has been shut down a while ago. However, Nazzal had left his post at this channel before his arrest.

DİSK Press Labor said, “We as journalists from Turkey can understand very well what Nazzal has been going through. As we wish for everyone who is practicing journalism in our country, we wish freedom for Nazzal too”.

In these days, over a hundred arrestees in Israeli prisons are on hunger strike in protest of administrative detention. Of the arrestees, Bilal Kayed is on the 70th day of his hunger strike. (NV/TK/DG)