UN experts decry arrest of Electronic Intifada co-founder Ali Abunimah in Switzerland

UN special rapporteurs called Abunimah's arrest 'shocking' and 'concerning', and urged Switzerland to investigate the arrest and release the journalist.
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Pro-Palestinian protests take place in Switzerland, demanding an end to Israel's war [Getty/file photo]

UN human rights experts and activists condemned on Sunday the arrest of US-Palestinian journalist Ali Abunimah in the Swiss city of Zurich, saying it raised concerns about freedom of speech.

Abunimah, the executive director of online pro-Palestinian publication Electronic Intifada (EI), was arrested by Swiss police on Saturday ahead of a speech in Zurich, the organisation said in a statement.

Swiss police confirmed that a 53-year-old American had been arrested, citing an entry ban, and said further measures under its immigration law were being considered.

EI said the journalist was questioned for an hour before he was permitted to enter Switzerland.

According to the Swiss news site NZZ, Zurich police were notified of Abunimah attending an event held by The Palestine Committee Zurich and submitted a request to Fedpol that he be banned, which was accepted.

Government Councillor and head of the Department of Security, Mario Fehr, told the publication: "We do not want an Islamist Jew-hater who calls for violence in Switzerland."

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, called the arrest "shocking news" and urged Switzerland to investigate and release him in a post on the X social media platform.

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"The climate surrounding freedom of speech in Europe is becoming increasingly toxic, and we should all be concerned," said Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied territories.

Pro-Palestinian advocacy group Swiss Action for Human Rights launched a petition to release Abunimah on Sunday.

The group siad: "We condemn this violation of [Abunimah's] fundamental rights, of freedom of expression in Switzerland, and arbitrary discrimination and violence". 

A spokesperson for the US embassy in Bern said it was providing appropriate consular assistance after seeing reports of the arrest of a US citizen, declining further comment.