PEACEGRAM PETITIONS

On 8 January 2025, Jarrah was detained by the Palestinian Authority while going to jenin by a taxi. As of now, his whereabouts remain unknown, and there has been no information released about his condition. The authorities have refused to provide any details regarding his detention, even to his family, which is a clear violation of human rights.

Moreover, it is troubling that, on the same day as his arrest, Palestinian security forces raided Jarrah’s home in the middle of the night. During this raid, his belongings were searched and tampered with, and acts of intimidation and harassment were carried out. However, nothing of importance was found, and the authorities left without providing any explanation. This raid appears to have been an attempt to intimidate and terrorize Mr. Khalaf without any legal justification.

Jarrah is a journalist who has only done his duty to document the ongoing events in the Jenin camp, particularly focusing on the tensions between Palestinian resistance forces and the Palestinian Authority. He has not been involved in any violent activities; he is simply a journalist with a camera, seeking to share the truth of what is happening. His arrest and subsequent treatment are a direct attack on press freedom and the rights of journalists.

In light of these alarming circumstances, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jarrah Khalaf. If there are any charges against him, they must be made transparent, and he must be allowed to communicate with his family, a lawyer, and the Journalists’ Union. If there is any legal justification for his detention, we call for the authorities to provide clear and substantiated reasons for his arrest. We also demand that his location and condition be disclosed immediately, and we call on the authorities to ensure his safety and well-being during his detention.

We trust that the relevant authorities will take immediate and effective action to address this grave situation, to ensure the protection of press freedom, and to safeguard the rights of journalists. We urge all concerned individuals and organizations to join us in advocating for the immediate release of journalist Jarrah Khalaf and the protection of his rights.

Recently Al Jazeera offices in Palestine were forcefully closed. The world must join together to stop attacks on journalists that are shedding light on human rights abuses in conflict zones.