Police In Switzerland Ban Then Detain Palestinian American Journalist

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Swiss police in Zurich arrested Palestinian American author and journalist Ali Abunimah on January 25 in order to block him from delivering a lecture at an event organized by the Palestine Committee of Zurich. 

Abunimah is the co-founder and executive director of The Electronic Intifada, an independent not-for-profit media organization focused on promoting Palestinian perspectives. He has written the books “One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse” (2006) and “The Battle for Justice In Palestine” (2014). He was in Switzerland for several speaking engagements.

According to a press release from the Zurich police, the authorities were enforcing an “entry ban.” Abunimah was apparently held in detention while immigration authorities processed him for deportation.

The Electronic Intifada put out a statement in support of their executive director. “When he arrived at Zurich airport on Friday, Abunimah was questioned by police for an hour before being allowed to enter the country.” He was granted access to legal counsel. 

“Abunimah’s arrest appears to be part of a growing backlash from Western governments against expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the media outlet added. 

“[T]he targeting of a journalist and human rights advocate for exercising freedom of expression” was condemned by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). 

“ADC stands in full solidarity with Abunimah and urgently demands his immediate release. We call on the U.S. State Department to fulfill its responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens abroad and do what it can to secure the safe and immediate release of Abunimah,” the ADC declared. 

“Speaking out against injustice in Palestine is not, and should never be considered, a crime,” the ADC continued. “Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are universal fundamental rights that must be protected, not punished.”

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, based in Switzerland, condemned the “arbitrary arrest” and asserted that it gave the “false impression that showing solidarity with the victims of the Israeli occupation peacefully is now illegal.” They also called for Abunimah’s immediate release.

“Targeting journalists and human rights advocates is indicative of a significant decline in European governments' dedication to upholding human rights and freedom of expression," the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor further stated. "Additionally, this arrest is part of a larger campaign that has seen harassment and similar arrests in other European nations, demonstrating the growing extent of repression and limitations on Palestinian rights advocates.”

On October 17, 2024, British counter-terrorism police raided the home of Electronic Intifada associate editor Asa Winstanley. He was not charged with a crime, but the police seized several of his devices, which contained journalistic material. 

Both the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), as well as numerous independent journalists from around the world, condemned the raid.

Hours after Abunimah was detained, Swiss Action for Human Rights launched a petition that demanded his immediate release. The group claimed that he was “violently and forcibly taken by unidentified individuals in civilian clothing while walking on the streets of Zurich on Saturday 25th January 2025.” He was scheduled for deportation on Monday, January 27. 

“[Abunimah] was on his way to give a lecture on the history of Palestine, after another event he was going to deliver the following day was cancelled due to external pressure, following a defamatory article in a local newspaper baselessly accusing him of radical islamism and antisemitism,” Swiss Action claimed. “The cantonal police supposedly obtained a prohibition for him to enter the territory once he was already in the country, a decision which was not subjected to any legal review."

"Ali Abunimah was brutally abducted in violation of due process.” Swiss Action emphasized that he had “not been convicted of any crime by Swiss authorities.” The effort to silence Abunimah was linked to “a campaign by special interest groups and powerful institutions to silence the truth and deny the oppression of the Palestinian people, attacking free speech and waging a war on journalism.”

Hossam Shabat, a Palestinian journalist in north Gaza who has survived attacks by Israeli military forces, expressed solidarity with Abunimah. “I stand in solidarity with my colleague Ali Abunimah, who was arrested in Switzerland. Palestinian journalists continue to be targeted in and outside of Palestine.”

Defending Rights and Dissent, a civil liberties organization in the United States, indicated that they were “deeply disturbed” that Abunimah was arrested. (Their policy director, Chip Gibbons, has contributed articles to The Dissenter.)