Palestinian-American author and journalist Ali Abunimah was arrested by Swiss police in Zurich on January 25, where he was to hold a speaking tour.
Co-founder and executive director of The Electronic Intifada, an independent not-for-profit media organization, Abunimah was flying to Switzerland to deliver a lecture at an event organized by the Palestine Committee of Zurich. According to EI, when he arrived at the Zurich airport, “Abunimah was questioned by police for an hour before being allowed to enter the country”. He was arrested a day after arriving to Zurich and is still detained.
According to the press release by the Zurich police, Abunimah was arrested due to an “entry ban in Zurich’s District 10” and “taken to a police station for further clarification”.
The arrest was condemned by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, which called it a “concerning and dangerous development that reflects a growing trend in Western governments to censor free speech and target journalists and activists who document the suffering of victims and stand up for Palestinian rights”.
UN Special Rapporteurs Irene Khan and Francesca Albanese have condemned the arrest and called for a prompt investigation into this matter.
In October 2024, another associate of Electronic Intifada – Asa Winstanley – was targeted by the police, when British counter-terrorism unit raided his home in London. He was not charged with a crime, but the police seized several of his devices, which contained journalistic material.