Palestinian authorities arrest critic, two years after severely beating him

Palestinian journalist Akil Awawdeh poses for a portrait at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on July 14, 2021. Palestinian security forces have detained Awawdeh after he wrote critical posts on social media, an activist group said on July 13, 2023. (AP/File)

• Akil Awawdeh was arrested earlier Thursday after he disparaged claims by a spokesman for the security services
• Palestinian officials had no immediate comment on Awawdeh's arrest

RAMALLAH, West Bank: Palestinian security forces have detained a Palestinian journalist after he wrote critical posts on social media, an activist group said Thursday.
The committee of families of political detainees said that Akil Awawdeh was arrested earlier Thursday after he disparaged claims by a spokesman for the security services that there are no political arrests in the West Bank.
“For God’s sake,” he wrote on Facebook. “You should respect our mind’s more than that.”
Awawdeh, a reporter for a local radio station, is an outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority and has had problems with security forces before. Two years ago, he was severely beaten inside a police station after covering a protest against the Palestinian Authority.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of stifling dissent by arresting people who write critical posts on social media and employing harsh tactics to disperse protests.
Palestinian officials had no immediate comment on Awawdeh’s arrest.
The committee of families of political detainees is affiliated with the rival Hamas militant group. It says it aims to raise awareness about politically motivated arrests in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Authority governs semi-autonomous zones in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.