Hurryyat Launches a National Campaign Against the Israeli Travel Ban Policy

Acting upon the resolutions of the national conference held on 25/02/2015, the Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat” launches a national campaign against the Israeli policy of banning travel as a means of opposing this policy gravely damaging the lives of tens of thousands of citizens of different strata, violating the basic human right of citizens to travel and to leave any country including their own and to return to their country at any time; a right guaranteed by the International Bill of Human Rights and the Universal Declartation of Human Rights (article 13), along with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 12, paragraph 2), and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 (article 35).

Moreover, the occupation authorities are posing strict restrictions on the liberty of movement and mobility between the governorates, mainly between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, preventing the Palestinians from practicing their right to worship, health, education, work, and social communication.

This silent crime practiced systematically since the early days of occupation as an arbitrary measurement of collective punishment demands a national and international movement to make the world understand the negative effects of this crime, and to put into action the international effective legal tools to put an end to this policy.

To insure the success of the campaign, Hurryyat Center calls upon the National and Islamic forces, the governmental and non-governmental organizations, and those affected from the policy to play an active role in it by forming specialized committees in the governorates, organizing events and activities, documenting cases banned from travel, and gathering signatures for a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and a copy to the international concerned authorities to urge them commit to their responsibilities and force the occupation state to respect the rights of citizens to travel, and their liberty of movement and mobility.

In addition to the legal nature of the campaign, Hurryyat Center aims at opening the horizons of the campaign to welcome a larger popular enrollment along with a governmental representation to ensure its effectiveness and continuity, and achieve its desired goals.