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Popular Struggle Coordination Committee European Union Expresses Concern Over Persecution of West Bank Protest Organizer, Bassem Tamimi EU representative to UN Human Rights Council stated on Tuesday that “The rights of Israeli and Palestinian Human Rights Defenders protesting peacefully [...] are severely curtailed”, mentioning Tamimi's case explicitly. The European Union expressed its concern last Tuesday that Palestinian “human rights defenders continue to be detained for their non violent protests”, specifically mentioning the case of West Bank protest organizer, Bassem Tamimi. The statement was given on behalf of the EU during the 17th session of the UN's Human Rights Council. Click here to see the full statement. The Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations Office in Geneva officially said on behalf of the EU that "The rights of Israeli and Palestinian Human Rights Defenders protesting peacefully against settlements and the separation barrier are severely curtailed. While the EU welcomed before this Council in March the release of Abdallah Abu Rahma, the EU is concerned that other human rights defenders continue to be detained for their non violent protests. The EU is observing the trial, which opened on 5 June before an Israeli military court, of Bassem Tamimi, an activist of the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh affected by the illegal settlement expansion. The EU is also concerned by reports that journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are exposed to severe harassment as this affects negatively the right to freedom of expression. Impunity for such acts is unacceptable." Tamimi's next hearing will take place on the June 27th at the Ofer Military Court , when testimonies will be heard in this case for the first time. Mohammed Khatib, coordinator of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said, "As September gets nearer and nearer and attack on the Palestinian popular struggle intensify, the world must make clear to Israel that just like neighboring Arab regimes, it too will not be allowed to crack down on civil resistance. This is an important step, but I am afraid the international community will have to take much stronger steps to assist us in achieving our freedom".
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