February 26, 2019•Update: February 27, 2019
By Mustafa Deveci and Esat Firat
JERUSALEM
The Israeli authorities are seeking to expel Mustafa Kharouf, a Palestinian photo-journalist for Anadolu Agency, from the occupied East Jerusalem, citing alleged “security concerns”.
For the last four weeks, Kharouf, 32, who has lived in the East Jerusalem for the last two decades, has been held at Israel’s Givon Prison.
He has resisted attempts by the Israeli authorities to force him into signing documents that would facilitate his expulsion to neighboring Jordan.
Rights activists recently launched a social media campaign -- with the hashtag #Mustafa_must_stay -- to drum up support for the embattled journalist.
For the last 20 years, the Israeli authorities have consistently refused to grant Kharouf a long-term residency permit.
Adi Lustigman, Kharouf’s lawyer, told Anadolu Agency that his client had lived in the East Jerusalem since he was 12 years old.
Nor, the lawyer added, is Kharouf a citizen of any other country.
“This is unacceptable anywhere in the world,” Lustigman said. “But unfortunately, many Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem face similar problems.”
According to Israel’s Internal Affairs Ministry, 14,630 Palestinians have had their residency permits rescinded in recent years.
