World Tribune.com contributer arrested

RAMALLAH -- The Palestinian Authority has arrested a leading media freedom activist and journalist whose articles have been published by World Tribune.com.

PA General Intelligence agents arrested Mohammed Najib, director of the Free Voice and a leading Palestinian journalist. Najib was also a correspondent for Middle East Newsline.

Najib was arrested on Wednesday and taken to a Ramallah jail. No explanation was given.

"They don't explain why," said Maher Alami, head of the Free Voice and who himself was jailed for 12 days in June. "As usual, they don't say anything."

Najib was threatened several times with arrest in connection with his reports -- which focused on Palestinian corruption -- as well as his promotion of freedom for Palestinian journalists.

The PA did not comment on the arrest.

Earlier, PA Preventive Security Apparatus chief, Col. Jibril Rajoub, said he ordered the arrest of Alami. Alami was released from a Ramallah jail after he was forced to sign a pledge not to criticize PA officials.

"It's true that I arrested him," Rajoub said. "Mr. Maher Alami is trying to use this arrest to appear as if he's a hero in human rights. I don't think Maher Alami cares more about human rights than any other Palestinian." Rajoub would not elaborate.

Alami responded angrily and said the PA has used physical and financial pressure to stop him from writing. He said he has not received his salary from a Palestinian court for three months.

"He's a big liar," Alami said of Rajoub. "I was detained and interrogated on background of many articles that I wrote in which I criticized corruption. They tried to force me not to write anymore. They are waging a war against my bread and the bread of my children."