On June 22nd, 2006 Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity "Aman" appealed to the Palestinian Supreme Court to cancel a decision issued on April 22nd, 2006 by the Palestinian PM and Undersecretary for Ministry of Interior and National Security to halt NGO registration.
The Palestinian Prime Minister issued a decision to stop receiving applications for registration of charities and NGOs.
Accordingly, on May 22nd 2005, Mr.
Amin Maqboul, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Security, issued decision No.
75 of the year 2006 to stop receiving new NGO registration applications.
The decisions by the PM and the Undersecretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Security are inconsistent with the edited basic law, most notably Article 26 which emphasizes that "Palestinians, groups and individuals, have the right to participate in political life and the right to form organizations, syndicates, unions, associations, clubs, and public institutions in accordance with the law".
Further, both decisions contradict the text and essence of the Law for NGOs and Charities, notably articles of the second section of the Law where Article No.
1 states " Palestinians have the right to practice social, cultural, professional and scientific activities freely including their right to form and run NGOs in accordance with the law.
" With reference to the content of the above-mentioned decisions, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity "Aman" confirm that appealing to the court is a legitimate right guaranteed by law to cancel administrative decisions and ensure the rule of the law.
End