PA detains journalist critical of mission to France

Palestinian taken for questioning over a controversial article he wrote on the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Paris.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
PA Police 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
PA Police 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Palestinian Authority Monday detained a Palestinian journalist who wrote an article about corruption in the Palestinian diplomatic mission in France.
The journalist, Yousef al-Shayeb, was detained for questioning for 48 hours questioning following a complaint by the head of the diplomatic mission, Hayel Fahoum and his wife and deputy. The PA Foreign Ministry had also filed a complaint against Shayeb.
Shayeb, who works as a correspondent for the Jordanian daily Al-Ghad, was detained after refusing to reveal his sources, Palestinian journalists in Ramallah said.
The controversial article, which was published earlier this year, claimed that the diplomatic mission in Paris was recruiting Arab students to spy on Islamic groups in France.
PA security forces in Ramallah questioned Shayeb for eight hours on January 31 about the report.
The Palestinian journalist has since refused to reveal the identity of his sources under the pretext that he is protected by law.