A Palestinian Authority court on Wednesday extended the remand of Palestinian journalist Yousef al-Shayeb, who was detained after writing an article about corruption in the Palestinian diplomatic mission in France, official PA news agency WAFA reported.
Shayeb, who works as a correspondent for the Jordanian daily Al-Ghad, was originally detained following a complaint by the head of the diplomatic mission, Hayel Fahoum and his wife and deputy. The PA Foreign Ministry had also filed a complaint against Shayeb.
The decision to extend his remand was made pending an investigation of charges of slander and defamation. In the hearing, Shayeb announced he would go on hunger strike to protest the infringement on press freedom, according to WAFA.
Palestinian journalists held a demonstration in Ramallah calling for his release Wednesday. Shayeb has refused to reveal his sources, Palestinian journalists in Ramallah said.
The controversial article, which was published earlier this year, claimed that the diplomatic mission in Paris was recruiting Arab students to spy on Islamic groups in France.
PA security forces in Ramallah questioned Shayeb for eight hours on January 31 about the report.
The Palestinian journalist has since refused to reveal the identity of his sources under the pretext that he is protected by law.
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