Sharek has been forcibly shut down based on these and ONLY these politicized charges

Sharek’s Charge Sheet:

If Sharek is closed what will happen in Gaza? Moheeb Sha’ath, Sharek’s director in Gaza and a front-line defender of the rights of Gazans has been harassed on a daily basis for the past year and yesterday Sharek in Gaza was forcibly shut down.

On Tuesday, 30 November 2010, a police force attacked Sharek Youth Forum’s headquarters in Gaza city. Without giving any legal justifications, the police forced the staff to abandon the offices across Gaza and hand over the keys. The order was issued by the Attorney General designate in the Gaza Strip judge Mohammad Abed. The forces even closed those offices in Khan Younis and Rafah which are operated by Sharek in partnership with the municipalities.

None of Sharek’s staff or members has ever appeared before any legal or judicial process to justify such an action. Indeed, the decision of the Attorney General is in conflict with the Palestinian Basic Law and the Charitable Societies and NGOs Law No. 1 of 2000. Article 41of the latter states that:

The closure of any society or organization should be according to a decision issued by a Court of Law.

Yesterday’s illegal actions come after a series of violations and harassments against Sharek in Gaza over the last year (full chronology here). These violations included closure of Sharek’s center in Rafah, confiscation of computers and equipment and repeated summoning of Sharek’s Director, staff and members of the Board of Directors for questioning by the internal security apparatuses.

Sharek is one of a mere handful of independent civil society organisations that survived the first round of closures in 2007-8. Sharek, along with other civil society and human rights organisations have been campaigning for an end to such violations and their right to self-expression and mobilization.

Sharek Youth Forum condemns these unjustified and illegal actions and the defamation of its staff, in particular its director Moheeb Sha’ath.

We demand:

1. Cancellation of the above-mentioned decision

2. The re-opening of Sharek’s headquarters

3. The freedom of all civil society organisations work in the Gaza Strip

4. An end to all forms of harassments and violations by the security apparatus against Sharek Youth Forum, its staff and against all other civil society organisation.

Sharek Youth Forum reaffirms its commitment to all the youth, civil society organizations and the national and democratic parties and individuals who have supported and stood with us unequivocally over the past year. Despite the illegal violations and actions, Sharek is absolutely determined to continue its services to youth in Gaza through all attainable, tested means and never to give up hope in the youth of Gaza and Palestine.

We call upon all our partners and friends, local and international to exert whatever pressure and influence they can to ensure that these demands are met.

Once again, we ask, if Sharek Youth Forum is closed based on its lack of willingness to waver, what will happen in Gaza in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years?

Board of Directors
Sharek Youth Forum
Jerusalem in 30 November 2010