A/HRC/54/61
reportedly launched against Ms. Zainab al Ghonaimi. She was accused of “kidnapping”,
being “anti-Islam” and there were explicit calls to kill her. On 26 December 2022, an
influential sheikh from southern Gaza published messages on social media threatening
“CEDAW women”. He allegedly posted a photo of Ms. al Ghonaimi with a red circle over
her head, accusing her of being “the head of CEDAW women” and of “damaging family
integrity by benefiting from the colonizing power”.
147. In September 2022, Ms. Amal Syam was explicitly named in a new wave of reported
online attacks. On behalf of her organization, she filed a complaint against one of the
perpetrators, including for defamation and insult, death threats and misuse of technology.
While she was summoned by the Attorney General’s office for additional information, at the
end of April 2023, she had not been informed of any investigative or other steps taken
regarding her complaint. Threats and stigmatizing posts against her and WAC from the
perpetrator Ms. Syam had filed a complaint against reportedly continued during the following
months. The Facebook page Mass Movement against CEDAW, with over 33,000 followers,
was taken down by the platform in early 2023. As of mid-April 2023, the movement
continues to operate through its back-up Facebook account as well as on two other social
networks. Across the three current social media platforms, the movement has a combined
following of over 8,100 users.
148. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented the case of a detainee in the custody
of Palestinian authorities in the West Bank. The detainee concerned allegedly faced torture
and ill-treatment after having shared information with OHCHR about his treatment in
detention, in the context of the interviews carried out by OHCHR staff during a visit made
by the Office to the detention facility. Names and details of those concerned have been
withheld due to fear of further reprisals.
74
GE.23-15378