Mahmoud Abbas decree gives Palestinians freedom of expression ahead of elections
SHARE Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree ordering the respect of freedom of expression ahead of legislative elections in May. The step was demanded by Palestinian factions who discussed the polls in talks brokered by Egypt this month. In a subsequent decree, Mr Abbas allocated seven seats for Christians in the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council. The council, which the Palestinian Authority president dismissed in 2018, had six representatives for Christians, who make up 1 per cent of the Palestinian population. The decree bans all police pursuits and detentions in the ...