Human rights group calls for release of newsman

RAMALLAH -- A leading Palestinian human rights group has called for the release of the latest journalist detained by the Palestinian Authority.

LAW, the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment, said the arrest of Mohammed Najib was the latest in the PA's campaign against journalists and the media's right to operate freely. Najib was arrested by the PA General Intelligence agency on Wednesday.

"LAW strongly condemns the arrest of Najib and views the arrest as being based on practicing the right to freedom of expression," the group said. "LAW also views the arrest as a restriction to the right to freedom of expression and demands the GIA to immediately release journalist Najib."

The group did not say why Najib was arrested. But it reported that Najib was detained for a month in 1998 and was subsquently released without charge.

LAW said the General Intelligence summoned Najib to appear for interrogation when he was placed in custody. Later, the agency told Najib's family to bring medication for his condition.

Najib was one of two directors of the Free Voice, which lobbies for freedom for Palestinian journalists. The group has released reports on the PA's campaign against journalists and independent media outlets.

The Free Voice's Maher Alami was arrested in June after he wrote a series of articles critical of the PA.