More on the arrest of Ali Abunimah:
Prolific Palestinian-American journalist and Electronic Intifada founder Ali Abunimah was arrested by plain-clothed police and later deported from Switzerland, while convicted Israeli war criminals visit the European continent freely. This comes as part of a wider trend that has seen Western nations crack down on pro-Palestine activists and journalists.
Abunimah was detained by plainclothes police officers on the streets of Zurich, subjected to two days of interrogation, and held in detention before his deportation. The arrest drew sharp criticism from United Nations experts, who warned that “the climate surrounding freedom of speech in Europe is becoming increasingly toxic.”
Abunimah’s trip to Switzerland was set to conclude with a speech on the Palestinian struggle. But shortly after his arrival, he became the subject of a media attack. The Swiss outlet NZZ published a piece attempting to link him to Islamic fundamentalism and anti-Semitism. The article quoted a board member of the Zionist group Never Again Is Now (NAIN), who alleged that “Abunimah and his platform are a mouthpiece for Hamas.”
Mario Fehr, the official behind Abunimah’s arrest on January 25, is a staunchly pro-Israel activist and security figure in Switzerland known for attending and speaking at pro-Israel rallies. The precise reason for Abunimah’s detention and deportation remains unclear—he was held without charge—but the circumstances suggest his journalistic work was a likely factor.
While Palestinian Journalist Ali Abunimah faced arrest, interrogation, and eventual deportation on January 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was granted permission by Polish authorities to visit the Auschwitz memorial, despite an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, meanwhile, was welcomed with full diplomatic courtesies at the World Economic Forum’s annual conference in Davos.
