Parliamentary question - E-005971/2017Parliamentary question
E-005971/2017

VP/HR — The case of Palestinian human rights defender Issa Amro and the Palestinian Cyber Crime Law

Question for written answer E-005971-17
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Julie Ward (S&D) , Wajid Khan (S&D) , Claude Rolin (PPE) , Jude Kirton-Darling (S&D) , Ivan Jakovčić (ALDE) , Anna Hedh (S&D) , Javier Nart (ALDE) , Jordi Solé (Verts/ALE) , Tanja Fajon (S&D) , Stelios Kouloglou (GUE/NGL) , Ivo Vajgl (ALDE) , Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE) , Alfred Sant (S&D) , Ismail Ertug (S&D) , Judith Sargentini (Verts/ALE) , Merja Kyllönen (GUE/NGL) , Hilde Vautmans (ALDE) , Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL)

On 4 September 2017, the prominent Palestinian human rights defender Issa Amro was arrested by the Palestinian Authority without a warrant, regarding social media posts that were critical of it. Mr Amro was charged with ‘disruption of public order’, ‘insulting the authorities’ and ‘inciting strife, under the recently adopted Cyber Crime Law’. He was released on bail on 10 September.

Mr Amro is the founder of ‘Youth Against Settlements’ and has worked with human rights NGOs to document Israeli human rights violations in the West Bank. His arrest follows several other similar cases during a recent escalation in measures taken by the Palestinian Authority to restrict and detain Palestinian journalists and social media activists, which has been condemned by Amnesty International. NGOs have raised serious concerns about the ‘Palestinian Authority’s Cyber Crime Law’, which severely restricts journalists and activists’ freedom of expression.

What immediate action does the EEAS intend to take to guarantee that the charges against Mr Amro are dropped?

What will the EEAS do to secure the freedoms and rights of other Palestinian human rights defenders?

What steps will the EEAS take to push for the repeal of the new Palestinian Cyber Crime Law?