Washington, DC – Swiss authorities have released and deported Palestinian American journalist Ali Abunimah after detaining him for three days.
In a social media post on Monday, Abunimah, the executive director of the Electronic Intifada publication, suggested that Switzerland detained him due to his advocacy for Palestinian rights.
He wrote, “My ‘crime’? Being a journalist who speaks up for Palestine and against Israel’s genocide and settler-colonial savagery and those who aid and abet it.”
Abunimah was arrested in Zurich on Saturday before a scheduled speech in the city, sparking outrage from Palestinian rights advocates.
According to Reuters, Swiss police cited an entry ban and other immigration law measures as the reason for Abunimah’s arrest.
When questioned by police, Abunimah said he was accused of “offending against Swiss law” without specific charges being provided. He was isolated in a cell 24 hours a day and cut off from communicating with the outside world. His phone was returned to him only at the plane gate that flew him to Istanbul.
During his incarceration, Abunimah noted the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Herzog’s controversial comments on the war in Gaza were highlighted.
After his release, Abunimah expressed admiration for Palestinian prisoners who endure much longer terms, emphasizing the importance of their freedom.
I’m free! I wrote this on the plane and I’m posting it just after landing at Istanbul. On Monday evening I was brought to Zurich airport in handcuffs, in a small metal cage inside a windowless prison van and led all the way to the plane by police. This is after three days and two… pic.twitter.com/S4BF2eEYYQ
— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) January 27, 2025
UN experts condemned Abunimah’s detention as an attack on free speech, calling for his immediate release and an investigation into the incident.
Amid a crackdown on pro-Palestine voices in Europe, Abunimah’s arrest is seen as part of a disturbing trend. Similar incidents involving other journalists critical of Israeli policies have raised concerns about freedom of speech in the region.
In Gaza, the death toll of journalists has risen since the start of the 2023 war, with local authorities reporting 205 killed.
