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Update #1 to RAN 03/16
Muhammad al-Qiq]PEN International welcomes the release, on 8 November 2017, of prominent Palestinian journalist Muhammed al-Qiq. He had been detained by Israeli authorities almost one year under administrative detention following his arrest on 15 January 2017 at an Israeli checkpoint. During his detention, al-Qiq went on many hunger strikes in protest at his conditions of detention and to negotiate his release.
PEN International reiterates its call upon the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention with immediate effect, including of journalists and other writers.

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Please send appeals to the Israeli authorities:

Ø  Welcoming the release of Muhammed al-Qiq

Ø  Calling for the release all journalists and other writers held under administrative detention if they are not to be charged with an internationally recognisable criminal offence and tried in proceedings adhering to international standards;

Ø  Requesting an end to the use of administrative detention orders as they violate the right to a fair and prompt trial.

Appeals to:

•       Military Judge Advocate General
Brigadier General Sharon Afek
Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel
Fax: +972 3 569 4526
Email: Mag [at] idf.gov [dot] il
Salutation: Dear Judge Advocate General

•       Commander of the IDF – West Bank
Major-General Roni Numa
GOC Central Command
Military Post 01149, Battalion 877
Israel Defense Forces, Israel
Fax: +972 2 530 5741, +972 2 530 5724
Salutation: Dear Major-General Roni Numa

•       Minister of Public Security
Gilad Erdan
Kiryat Hamemshala
PO Box 18182
Jerusalem 91181, Israel
Fax: +972 2 584 7872
Email: gerdan [at] knesset.gov [dot] il
Salutation: Dear Minister

Please copy your appeals to the Embassy of Israel in your country. A list of embassies can be found here.

Please send us copies of your letters or information about other activities and of any responses received.

Publicity

PEN members are encouraged to publish articles and opinion pieces in your national or local press highlighting the use of administrative detention by Israel to detain journalists.
Background

Muhammed al-Qiq, from Ramallah in the West Bank, has been detained repeatedly as part of the Israeli government’s practice of administrative detention – a form of detention without charge or trial imposed for periods of up to six months, renewable an infinite number of times – and has undertaken several hunger strikes in response. The journalist was first arrested in November 2015, resulting in him embarking upon his first hunger strike which led to the deterioration of his health. On 4 February 2016, Israel’s Supreme Court “suspended” the administrative detention of al-Qiq, noting the severe deterioration of his health (For more information, please see RAN 03/16). After his release, al-Qiq was hospitalized in order to monitor his health condition. On 15 January 2017, al-Qiq was re-arrested at an Israeli checkpoint; as a consequence, he undertook two other hunger strikes before his release on 8 November 2017.
PEN International has been campaigning for al-Qiq, as well as for the release of all Palestinian writers and journalists who are unfairly imprisoned in Israel, in violation of their right to freedom of expression and opinion. To read our previous statement related to this case, click here.