Since early April, members of the Gaza Youth Committee (GYC), an ALLMEP member organization, have been detained by Hamas for holding a video call. The video call, held between Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals, was a rare opportunity for people to hear directly about the situation in Gaza during the pandemic.
John Lyndon, ALLMEP’s Executive Director has called for their immediate release based on Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” In an article published by the New York Times, Lyndon emphasized that GYC’s work– “speaking to people right around the world about the situation in Gaza, and the need for them and the two million people living there to enjoy the freedom, peace, and security that is denied to them — falls squarely within that right.”
According to Amnesty International, Rami Aman and other members of the GYC are likely to be brought before a military court. Amnesty International has called for their immediate release, labeling them as prisoners of conscience.
“Amnesty International considers Rami Aman, along with those arrested with him, to be detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and therefore prisoner of consciences who should be released immediately and unconditionally.”
ALLMEP is continuing to work with international partners to ensure that all members of the Gaza Youth Committee are released immediately.
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Photo: Rami Aman – Twitter
