PEN Palestine expresses its deepest condemnation of the arrest of Palestinian journalist Dr. Nasser al-Lahham, Head of the Al Mayadeen bureau in Palestine and a respected voice in independent journalism. His detention by the Israeli occupation forces represents a flagrant assault on freedom of expression, press freedom, and the right of the Palestinian people to speak their truth, document their suffering, and defend their narrative in the face of systematic erasure.
Journalists in Palestine face daily threats, censorship, and violence in their pursuit of truth. The arrest of Dr. al-Lahham, a veteran correspondent and editor, is not an isolated incident—it is part of a broader campaign aimed at silencing Palestinian narratives, criminalizing journalistic work, and erasing the lived realities under occupation.
As a branch of PEN International, committed to defending writers and journalists at risk, we view this arrest as a gross violation of international humanitarian law and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Nasser al-Lahham and for an end to all forms of persecution against Palestinian journalists and media institutions. We urge international human rights organizations, media outlets, and advocates of free speech to raise their voices in solidarity.
The silencing of a journalist is an attack on every citizen’s right to information, justice, and dignity.
PEN Palestine
11 July 2025
Jerusalem – Occupied Palestine
