The International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (ICSPR) calls on the Presidential Bureau to withdraw a complaint against AMAN Coalition and ensure the civil society’s freedom of action
Gaza – The International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (ICSPR) is following with great concern and disapproval the Ramallah Public Prosecution’s summoning of AMAN Coalition’s Board of Directors Advisor on Anti-Corruption Affairs, Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, and AMAN’s Executive Director Issam Haj-Hussein. The summoning took place on Monday, June 5, 2023 following a complaint filed against them by the Presidential Bureau against the backdrop of what was mentioned in AMAN’s 2022 report on the status of integrity and anti-corruption. The two defendants’ statements were taken regarding the contents of that report, especially the issue of “whitening settlement dates”. The Public Prosecution will hold another session on Tuesday [13 June 2023] to complete the investigation. This is a dangerous precedent that involves undermining the work space of civil society organizations. It fosters an environment of corruption, contrary to the minimum provisions of national and international human rights law, especially those which were ratified by the State of Palestine.
The International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (ICSPR) stresses the obligation to respect the freedom of action of civil society organizations and the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law, including the right to opinion and expression and countering and exposing corruption and abuse cases. These are considered a legitimate tool for protection and popular oversight on the behavior of public administration parties, especially in the absence of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The ICSPR considers the summoning incident a serious breach of democracy, legitimacy, and integrity. Such acts curtail the civil society’s work space and intimidate their personnel.
This reflects a framework of domination and unilateralism (one-side action). Therefore, the ICSPR calls on the Palestinian Authority and its institutions to respect the principles of civil action, freedom of opinion and expression, and upholding international conventions signed by the State of Palestine, especially the right to freedom of association and the independence of their work. The ICSPR also calls upon the Presidential Bureau to withdraw its complaint filed against AMAN Coalition, including their request from the Public Prosecution to investigate all the information included in AMAN’s report. The ICSPR also demands that all those involved in legal violations would be duly put to trial.
Moreover, it stresses the need to pass a modern law on the right to obtain information, in order to enable organizations to receive and provide accurate information. This would, in turn, enhance transparency, impartiality in public service jobs, and anti-corruption.
