Israel’s Detention of Palestinian Filmmaker Abdallah is An Attack on Free Expression, PEN Norway
The arbitrary detention of award-winning Palestinian filmmaker Abdallah Motan by Israeli authorities is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and cultural rights.
Held without charge under administrative detention since January 13, Motan’s imprisonment is part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian artists and journalists. His arrest at the Al-Karama crossing and subsequent detention at Gush Etzion, a facility notorious for poor conditions, constitute a clear violation of fundamental human rights.
Motan’s work, including his internationally recognized documentaries and his dedication to training young Palestinian filmmakers, has strengthened the voices of those living under occupation. His detention appears to be an attempt to silence alternative voices.
PEN Norway calls for
- Abdallah Motan’s immediate and unconditional release, along with the release of all Palestinian journalists, artists and cultural workers arbitrarily detained and
- Israeli authorities to end their systematic repression of artistic and journalistic freedom in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel was the world’s second-worst jailer of journalists in its latest annual prison census, with 43 Palestinian journalists remained in Israeli custody as of December 1, 2024.
