14/2012

The Independent Commission for Human Rights “ICHR” is deeply concerned over the assault, which involved a peaceful march that was heading towards the Al-Muqatta’a to express its rejection of Shaul Mofaz’s expected visit to the city of Ramallah and his meeting with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. A number of participants, including journalists were attacked and beaten, and a number of them were detained for some time before being released.

Shaul Mofaz is an Israeli politician and a former Minister of Defense and IDF Chief of Staff. He is currently the head of Israel’s Kadima political party.

On Saturday afternoon, 30 June 2012, dozens of citizens gathered in a peaceful march in the downtown of Ramallah.  As the march was heading towards the Al-Muqatta’a in Ramallah, it was intercepted by a group of police officers, and some unidentified elements with civilian clothes. They prevented the participants of moving forward.  As the participants attempted to move, some of them were assaulted and beaten up, resulting in the injury of some participants. Four of the injured were taken to the Ramallah government hospital for medical treatment.

ICHR considers that this measure is incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Palestinian Basic Law.

Paragraph (5) of Article (26) of the Palestinian Basic Law guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and allows for “holding private meetings without the presence of police members, and for conducting public meetings, gatherings and processions, within the limits of the law” whereas Article (2) of the Public Assemblies Law No (12) of 1998 states that “citizens have the right to freely hold public meetings, seminars, and demonstrations,  which should not be affected or restricted unless in accordance with the controls stipulated by this law”.

Article (4) of the Palestinian Public Assembly Law of 1998 provides for a number of foundations for the exercise of this right, stating: “A written notification should be signed and submitted by the organizers of the meeting, provided that they are no less than three individuals, indicating the purpose of the meeting and the time and place where the meeting shall be held.”

The security agencies’ prohibition of solidarity protests constitutes a serious contravention of international conventions, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “Each and every person has the right to participate in meetings and peaceful assemblies".

ICHR expresses its grave concern over the continual violation of the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. ICHR stresses that this right is enshrined and guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law, the Law of Public Assembly and international human rights conventions, and demands that the security agencies, especially under the current conditions, address peaceful gatherings wisely, allow people, particularly the youth, to express their opinions peacefully and freely, and investigate attacks on the participants and the concomitant events.