BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Hizb ut-Tahrir movement on Friday said the Palestinian Authority arrested 22 of its members after the pacifist Islamist group distributed a statement criticizing the government. The PA harshly beat those who were detained in Tulkarem, in the northern West Bank, the movement said in a statement calling on the government in Ramallah to release its supporters. In early July, Palestinian security forces imposed restrictions on demonstrations organized by Hizb ut-Tahrir commemorating the 90th anniversary of the collapse of the Muslim caliphate.
| The particular one they are referring to being the Ottoman empire. The Moroccan caliphate is doing just fine, with its king still claiming descent from Mohammed, while Pakistan was established to reincarnate the Moghul caliphate on a modern template -- and certainly has managed to mimic some of the worst features of its predecessor. |
| Clearly they've forgotten how the Ottomans treated protestors. |
Palestinians have the right to peaceful assembly under the Basic Law and international human rights instruments, the Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights said at the time. The group said it strongly condemned the actions of the security forces to interfere with the movement's right to have public and private peaceful assemblies, and the use of force.
In response, PA security spokesman Adnan Ad-Dmeiri said at the time that forces did not open fire at any rallies, but the demonstrations were "chaotic and violated law in some cities." He added that the group created chaos "under the pretext of their right to expression."