US Sanctions Journalist: 'Free Press' an Exclusive Club
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that Palestinian-British journalist and activist Zaher Birawi has been placed on the US Treasury's sanctions list, with allegations linking the Palestinian Committee for Planning and Communication Abroad (PCPA) to Hamas. Birawi, who has consistently championed Palestinian rights, vehemently denies the charges, calling the sanctions an attack on journalism and
advocacy. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US has a long history of weaponizing 'terrorism' designations to silence dissent and undermine Palestinian advocacy. Following the 1948 Nakba, which saw 750,000 Palestinians ethnically cleansed, the US has systematically supported Israel's narrative while actively suppressing Palestinian voices. The Holy Land Foundation was shut
down in 2001, its assets frozen, and its founders jailed based on similarly broad 'material support for terrorism' allegations, effectively criminalizing humanitarian aid to Palestinians and creating the chilling effect we see today. Double Standard: While the US Treasury targets a journalist for alleged ties to a group deemed 'terrorist' by the US, it maintains close military and intelligence
cooperation with governments notorious for actual human rights abuses and the suppression of their own media. Saudi Arabia, implicated in the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, remains a key strategic partner and recipient of advanced US weaponry, often used against civilians in Yemen. The US also provided $1.3 billion in annual military aid to Egypt even as its government, under Sisi, cracks down