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January 25, 2025 – Palestine/USA/Switzerland –
Palestinian-American journalist and Executive Director of The Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah, was detained by Swiss authorities in Zurich just before a scheduled speaking engagement. His arrest on January 25—described by witnesses as a violent intervention by plainclothes officers—led to a three-day administrative detention and ultimately deportation.
Abunimah had entered Switzerland the previous day for a Palestine solidarity event hosted by the Palestine Committee Zurich. Although he cleared a routine customs screening after approximately one hour, Zurich police later intercepted him en route to the venue. Three unmarked officers allegedly forced him into an unmarked vehicle, detaining him without being shown identification or charges.
Swiss officials then invoked immigration laws, citing an entry ban for “threatening internal security” — a characterization attributed to Zurich’s security director Mario Fehr, who reportedly described Abunimah as an “Islamist Jew-hater”. No formal criminal charges were filed.
During his detention, Abunimah was held incommunicado in a cell, reportedly stripped of phone access and only allowed to speak with his lawyer. He was transferred under handcuffs to Zurich Airport in a metal cage before being deported to Istanbul on January 27.
His ordeal prompted swift international backlash. U.N. rights experts—including Irene Khan and Francesca Albanese—denounced the arrest as a threat to freedom of expression and demanded a prompt investigation and release. Activist groups like Swiss Action for Human Rights initiated petitions, while organizations such as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee called for U.S. diplomatic intervention.
In a heartfelt reflection shared via social media from the flight, Abunimah condemned his treatment as harassment of pro‑Palestinian voices and affirmed that journalism “is not a crime.” He acknowledged solidarity from thousands of supporters while reiterating the ongoing fight for justice and press freedom.
The incident has reignited concerns across Europe about growing intolerance toward pro-Palestinian speech. Critics argue that Abunimah’s arrest represents a disturbing precedent for censorship, intimidation, and surveillance of journalists, not just in Switzerland but across Western democracies.
Reference –
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-839230
https://electronicintifada.net/content/eis-ali-abunimah-arrested-switzerland/50333
