Human Rights Watch Director Quits Over Alleged Censorship of Palestine Report

Human Rights Watch Director Resigns Over Report on Israel-Palestine

Omar Shakir, a director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), has resigned from his position after expressing concerns over the organization’s decision to pause the publication of a report on the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Shakir, who worked for HRW for over 10 years, stated that he had lost faith in the organization’s integrity and commitment to principled reporting.

The report, which was slated for release on December 4, accused Israel of committing “crimes against humanity” due to its denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return. Shakir claimed that Executive Director Philippe Bolopion blocked the report, citing concerns that it would be misinterpreted by critics as a call to “demographically extinguish the Jewishness of the Israeli state”.

Shakir’s resignation letter stated that he had faced criticism from both Israel and Palestine during his tenure at HRW. He maintained that the organization adheres to high standards and publishes facts based on its research, despite facing challenges and biases.

HRW has confirmed Shakir’s resignation and stated that it paused the publication of the report due to concerns over the factual basis and legal conclusions. The organization is currently conducting further analysis and research before deciding on the report’s release.

Shakir previously investigated rights abuses in Israel, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza, documenting how Israel instituted an apartheid system and persecuted Palestinians. In 2019, he was deported by the Israeli government due to his advocacy work.

Source: Al Jazeera