From the news desk

Journalists demand release of hunger-striking prisoner al-Qiq

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RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Dozens of Palestinian journalists and relatives of jailed Palestinians on Wednesday demanded immediate intervention to save Palestinian hunger striker Muhammad al-Qiq.

A sit-in was held for the 33-year-old journalist and father of two, just as the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem held a session ruling to delay a decision on al-Qiq’s case.

Head of the Palestinian Authority’s Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Issa Qaraqe, said that the committee’s sole demand was for al-Qiq as to be released due to his critical condition and arbitrary detention.

Head of the Journalists’ Union, Nasser Abu Bakr, meanwhile said a decision by the court to extend al-Qiq’s detention would ultimately result in the striker’s death.

Abu Bakr added that the Israeli government would likely use the judiciary system to pass its “crime” of “executing” al-Qiq.

Parliament member, Mustafa al-Barghouthi, meanwhile said al-Qiq had become a symbol of resistance against administrative detention and that his strike represents his defense for prisoners in Israeli jails.

He added that al-Qiq is defending every journalist, not only Palestinian but internationally, in addition to defending the freedom of opinion and expression.

Al-Qiq entered his 64th day on hunger strike after being detained by Israeli authorities in November and held under administrative detention without charge or trial since.

A journalist present at Wednesday’s sit-in, Jihan Awad, said that strike was the only weapon that al-Qiq and other administrative detainees have. MA’AN NEWS AGENCY


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