Palestinian Information Ministry Protests Facebook Closure of Fatah Page

Facebook closes official Palestinian Fatah page.

 
Ramallah, 03 Jumadil Akhir 1438/02 March 2017 (MINA) – The Palestinian Ministry of Information protested Wednesday Facebook closure of the official page of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, apparently because of a picture of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat carrying a weapon, as well as the page of a local radio station.

The ministry was quoted by WAFA as describing this move by Facebook as “blind bias toward the (Israeli) occupation and standing on the side of the executor who advocates terrorism and hate through the media.”

It said in a statement that Facebook has always denied any collaboration with the Israeli occupation authorities, but this move proves otherwise.

“Facebook is expected now more than any other time to define its understanding of freedom of expression and claims of incitement by an occupying power that acts as if it is above the law,” it added.

The Ministry said Facebook “has closed its eyes to Israeli incitement against Palestinians and calls for murder on its pages while at the same time it went after voices calling for freedom and end to occupation.”

It called on Facebook to go back on what it described as its “unjust” decision, adding that “whoever claims they are for freedom of expression and opinion around the world should not stand on the side of occupation, racism and terrorism that is acting against the Palestinian people’s aspiration for freedom.”    (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)