Al Mezan condemns constraining and arresting its lawyer and the assault on the Attorney General's office in Gaza by the Executive Force

The Executive Force (EF) arrested Al Mezan's coordinator of the Legal Aid Unit; lawyer Jamil Serhan, and obstructed his work today.
He was released unharmed one hour later.
Serhan drove to the office of the Attorney General (AG) with the Center's fieldworker, Yamin Al Madhoun, at approximately 1pm today, to investigate the allegation that the EF had rounded the office.
Al Mezan had received a telephone call from the AG 's office and was informed that the office was rounded by the EF with the intention of arresting the AG.
Serhan stated that members of the EF approached him near the AG's office as he was trying to take a picture of the EF's rounding of the office with his mobile phone.
They seized the mobile and took him to the security compound of As Saraya in Gaza city's center.
Al Madhoun was not allowed to accompany him.
Al Mezan's lawyers and fieldworkers went to the compound at once while the Center's administration contacted various officials to ensure his safe and fast release.
He was released one hour after the arrest.
According to information available to Al Mezan, the EF also arrested the AG, Mr.
Ahmed Al Mughani, and kept him in the As Saraya compound for one and a half hours for interrogation.
Al Mezan Center strongly condemns the obstruction of the work of its lawyer and the AG and arresting them by the EF.
Serhan was arrested while performing his duties in a professional way and without breaching any laws or norms.
His arrest constitutes a serious infringement of human rights organizations' ability to perform their work.
Such a conduct threatens the work of human rights defenders and the media and can not be acceptable.
Al Mezan wishes to point out that the EF prohibited journalists from approaching the AG's office or taking pictures or footage of the events there.
This represents a serious restriction of the freedom of expression and hinders the necessary role of free press in Gaza.
Al Mezan views such restrictions with much concern; especially considering that the media has a vital role in revealing human rights violations.
Al Mezan therefore calls for a prompt investigation in the arrest of its lawyer and for an immediate halt of the restriction of the work of the press in Gaza by the EF.
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