Abbas government slammed for detaining Palestinian activist
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Leading rights groups have called for the release of a prominent Palestinian activist who was detained after criticizing the autonomy government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Amnesty International and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights said Tuesday that Issa Amro's detention signals a growing crackdown on expression in the Palestinian enclaves.
Amro, 35, was detained Monday by Palestinian security forces after criticizing the detention of a local journalist who had called for Abbas' resignation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Separately, Amro faces Israeli charges of inciting to violence. His military court trial is to resume in October.
Amro founded the group Youth Against Settlements in Hebron, a volatile West Bank city where Jewish settlers live in heavily guarded enclaves.
Amro has said Israel is trying to silence him.