<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Human Rights Groups Criticize PA for Crackdown on Solidarity&nbsp;Rallies]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><span class="article-details"><span class="article-detail">Friday February 04, 2011 15:20</span><span class="article-detail"> by Ramona M. &#8211; IMEMC&amp;Agencies</span></span></p>
<blockquote class="article-intro"><p><em>Palestinian and international human  rights groups on Thursday warned of a decline in freedom of expression  in the West Bank, amidst the banning of Egypt solidarity rallies by the  Palestinian Authority. </em></p></blockquote>
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<p class="article">On Wednesday, PA security forces shut down a rally in Ramallah, using  batons to push demonstrators back and detaining at least two protesters.</p>
<p>In a statement, the Palestinian Commission for Human Rights (PCHR)  condemned the PA&#8217;s closure of the demonstrations. PCHR also added that a  number of journalists were also detained at the event.</p>
<p>PA forces also banned a similar gathering in central Ramallah on Thursday, the rights group said.</p>
<p>PA security spokesman Adnan Ad-Dmeiri announced Thursday that  &#8220;unlicensed gatherings&#8221; were banned in order to preserve order in the  West Bank.</p>
<p>PCHR said banning gatherings breaches Palestinian Basic Law which  affirms the rights of citizens to hold meetings freely, provided they  submit a written notification to authorities signed by at least three  organizers.</p>
<p>In addition, banning demonstrations also breaches the universal  declaration of human rights, which states that everyone has the right to  freedom of peaceful assembly.</p>
<p>The group urged the PA to allow citizens, particularly Palestinian youth, to express their views freely without intimidation.</p>
<p>The PA&#8217;s handling of solidarity rallies also drew criticism from Human Rights Watch on Thursday.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Palestinian Authority should immediately make clear that its  ‘state-building’ training of security forces does not include beating  peaceful demonstrators,&#8221; said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW&#8217;s Mideast chief.</p>
<p>&#8220;The PA should take action against the responsible police officers or  the US and EU should find another use for their taxpayers’ money,&#8221; she  added in a statement issued by Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>Other rallies expressing solidarity with the Egyptian people are planned  to take place this weekend in the West Bank, including Ramallah and  Bethlehem.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/60574">Human Rights Groups Criticize PA for Crackdown on Solidarity Rallies &#8211; International Middle East Media Center</a>.</p>
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