UNITED Nations human rights experts have condemned the arrest of a prominent Palestinian journalist in Zurich.
Ali Abunimah – the executive director of online publication Electronic Intifada which calls itself “Palestine’s weapon of mass instruction” – was arrested by Swiss police on Saturday before his making he was due to make a speech in Zurich.
Swiss police confirmed the 53-year-old American citizen had been arrested. They cited an entry ban and said further measures under its immigration law were being considered.
Irene Khan, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, called the arrest “shocking news” and urged Switzerland to investigate and release him in a post on Twitter/X.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied territories, also said the climate around freedom of speech was becoming “toxic”.
She said on Twitter/X: “I share the shock and urge for a prompt investigation into this matter.
“The climate surrounding freedom of speech in Europe is becoming increasingly toxic and we should all be concerned.”
Pro-Palestinian advocacy group Swiss Action for Human Rights launched a petition to release Abunimah on Sunday.
Abunimah’s arrest came a day after he arrived in Zurich for a speaking tour, Electronic Intifada said in a statement.
“He is currently being detained and has had access to legal counsel,” it said on Saturday. “When he arrived at Zurich airport on Friday, Abunimah was questioned by police for an hour before being allowed to enter the country.”
Describing the arrest as a “growing backlash from Western governments against expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people”, the website noted that several activists and journalists were arrested, raided or charged using “counterterror” powers in the United Kingdom last year.
They included Asa Winstanley, an associate editor with Electronic Intifada, whose home was raided and computers and phones seized, it said, adding that Winstanley has not been charged with any crime.
“Speaking out against injustice in Palestine is not a crime. Journalism is not a crime,” the website said.
During a solidarity protest for Palestine on Saturday in Geneva, demonstrators said Abunimah’s arrest “had no legal basis”.
“He is defamed by Zurich media,” one of the speakers said. “We have free speech in Switzerland. It is a constitutional right,” she said, calling the arrest “unacceptable”.
