(AP-VOA News) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has clamped down on social media and news websites, the main outlets for debate and dissent in the West Bank, with a new decree that allows his government to jail anyone on charges of harming "national unity" or the "social fabric." Rights activists say the edict, issued without prior public debate last month, is perhaps the most significant step yet by Abbas' government to restrict freedom of expression in the autonomous Palestinian enclaves of the West Bank. The PA government has blocked 30 websites in the past month, according to the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (Mada). Most of the sites were affiliated with Abbas' main rivals, Mohammed Dahlan and Hamas, while a few had supported the Islamic State. Five journalists working for news outlets linked to Hamas were detained this week and charged with violating the new law, while four other journalists were called for questioning about social media posts critical of government policy. The new decree stipulates prison terms ranging from one year to life for using digital means to endanger the safety of the state or public order.
2017-08-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive