Director General Dr. Guy Rotkopf
Ministry of Justice
29 Salah a-Din Street, Jerusalem

Fax: 02-6287757
Email: mancal@justice.gov.il

23 April 2014

Dear Director General,

We are writing as part of the global online campaign ’30 Days for Freedom’ to call for the release from administrative detention of Muhammad Anwar Muna, a journalist with Quds Press International News Agency.

In the early hours of August 7, 2013, Israeli officials raided the Nablus home of Mr. Muna, the West Bank correspondent for the UK-based Quds Press International News Agency. His computer, cell phone and papers were reportedly confiscated, and he was later sentenced to six months in jail under administrative detention. The courts renewed his sentence for an additional half-year.

Mr. Director General, the reasons for Mr. Muna's arrest remain unclear, but reports suggest that his detention may be connected to his coverage of alleged human rights violations committed by Israel in the West Bank. If this is confirmed, we are appalled that a journalist should be punished simply for doing his job.

According to the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), numerous press freedom violations have been committed in both Israel and the Palestinian Territories. In 2013, MADA documented a total of 151 Israeli violations of media freedoms in the West Bank, an increase of 50 from the year prior, and the most documented since 2008. Similarly, MADA has recorded over 500 violations between Gaza and the West Bank.

Mr. Director General, we respectfully call on you to ensure a safer environment for journalists working in areas that fall under your jurisdiction, and to immediately release Muhammad Anwar Muna.

Sincerely,

#FreethePress
The 30 Days for Freedom campaign

Organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, the ‘30 Days for Freedom’ campaign aims to highlight the plight of imprisoned journalists worldwide in the 30 days leading up to 3 May, World Press Freedom Day.

www.wan-ifra.org / www.worldpressfreedomday.org