Palestinian journalist ends hunger strike after 93 days
Mohammad al-Qiq, who works for Saudi news agency and is affiliated with Hamas, will be released from administrative detention in May in a deal reached to end his hunger strike, according to Hamas officials.
Al-Qiq, a Palestinian journalist who works for Saudi-owned TV network al-Majd, and who has close ties to Hamas, was arrested on November 21 at his home in Ramallah. He was then put on administrative detention, which means he could be held for up to 60 days without charge and without viewing evidence against him. His detention can then be extended with court approval.
His wife, Fayha al-Qiq, claimed he was arrested on suspicion of journalistic incitement, but he refused to admit to the charges. She claimed we was then deprived sleep, tied to a small chair for hours, and not allowed to see his children while in custody.
Fayha also claimed that her husband was held in solitary confinement, and that he was kept from meeting with his lawyer throughout the three months of his detention. On December 29, he was permitted a meeting with his lawyer and a representative from the Red Cross.
Earlier this month the Supreme court suspended al-Qiq's detention order saying that due to his medical condition he posed no imminent threat. But al-Qiq has refused to end his hunger strike until the order was cancelled altogether.
The deal with al-Qiq appeared to be similar to that of previous cases where Israel agreed to release hunger strikers it has held without charge - like Islamic Jihadists Hader Adnan and Muhammad 'Alan. Due to the length of his hunger strike, 'Alan was in danger of losing his life.
Last week, the United Nations, EU and rights groups expressed concern about Qiq, who refused any food or medical treatment, and denounced administrative detention.
"Al-Qiq has a right to know what are the charges against him and to go before a judge. Otherwise, he must be released immediately," said NGO Amnesty International.
Israel says detention without trial is essential in preventing further violence in cases where there is insufficient evidence to prosecute, or where going to court would risk exposing the identity of secret informants.
There are currently 600 Palestinians held in administrative detention, according to the Israeli Prison Service.
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