Palestinian arrested over Facebook comments

The public prosecutor in Ramallah has arrested a woman to investigate a recent post on Facebook, attorney general Ahmad al-Maghni told reporters Sunday. Al-Maghni said Ismat Abdul Khaliq posted a number of insulting comments which accused President Mahmoud Abbas of betrayal and called for disbanding the Palestinian Authority. “Yes to bringing down the traitor Mahmoud Abbas”, “Abbas is the fascist”, and “Abbas has held a party of immorality and shame at the blood of martyrs” were some of the comments, he said. He confirmed the preventive security filed a complaint against her. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate says Abdul Khaliq is not a member of the union. Palestinians have been arrested for criticizing Abbas and the PA in the past, often after doing so on Facebook. In September 2011, PA forces arrested journalist George Canawati over a Facebook post.