Freedom of expression online challenged in Palestine

On 4 September, Hebron-based human rights activist Issa Amro was arrested by the Palestinian authorities for denouncing the arrest of a journalist on Facebook. Amro was charged with ‘causing division’ and besmirching the authorities, on the account of the newly published cybercrime law in June 2017. Amnesty International condemned such ‘attacks on freedom of expression’ by the authorities which include the arrest of six journalists, the shutdown of 29 websites critical of the government, and the introduction of a draconian cybercrime law that quells on media freedom and dissenting voices. After one week of detention, Amro was released from police custody.