Ali Abunimah, founder of Electronic Intifada, is currently in Swiss custody; however, whether charges have been filed remains unconfirmed.
Swiss authorities apprehended Palestinian-American journalist Ali Abunimah in Zurich on Saturday, hours before a scheduled speaking engagement, as reported by Electronic Intifada, the pro-Palestine news organization he leads. While the reason for his detention is unclear, Electronic Intifada confirmed that Abunimah has legal representation. The previous day, he underwent an hour-long questioning by officers upon arrival at Zurich Airport.
Electronic Intifada suggests Abunimah’s arrest reflects a growing global crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism.
Abunimah, a 53-year-old born in Washington, D.C. to West Bank parents, co-founded Electronic Intifada in 2001. The website offers a Palestinian perspective on Middle Eastern events, and Abunimah is a frequent commentator on mainstream news channels.
This arrest follows a similar incident three months prior, where British police searched the home of Electronic Intifada associate editor Asa Winstanley, seizing electronic devices under suspicion of “encouragement of terrorism” related to social media activity. Winstanley faced no charges. Additionally, pro-Palestinian activists Mick Napier and Tony Greenstein have been arrested by British authorities since the October 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, and journalist Richard Medhurst was arrested in August on charges related to expressing support for a proscribed organization before being released with his equipment seized.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued a statement characterizing Abunimah’s arrest as a direct consequence of his outspoken advocacy and called on the U.S. State Department to intervene. The State Department has yet to release a statement.