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According to Hunt, if Foreign Ministry officials feel maligned, they can file civil suits in response. Jailing someone under investigation is out of line.
She added:
"If indeed Mr al-Shayeb is facing criminal charges, IPI (International Press Institute) would note that laws criminalizing press offenses are unnecessary given the existence of civil remedies, and serve only to deter investigative reporting.""Certainly journalists should never be jailed as a result of their work, and should not be compelled to reveal their sources."
"Mr Al-Shayeb and his editors (at al-Ghad) should take responsibility for the story they published, but the imprisonment of Yousef Al-Shayeb is a violation of press freedom and we hope he is released immediately."
Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki defended the arrest. He claimed he and the PA were victims, saying:
"I'm surprised some journalists reacted emotionally on behalf of their colleague without hearing the other side's case, or considering for a moment if Yousef al-Shayeb is the oppressor or the oppressed."
Al-Malki said Al-Shayeb knew his report was false. It claims the foreign minister promoted diplomat Safwat Ibraghit to deputy Paris ambassador despite knowing he has foreign intelligence ties.
Al-Shayeb claimed Ibraghit recruited Arab students to spy on Islamic groups in France and elsewhere abroad. He also said he shared information gotten with Palestinian and foreign intelligence agencies.
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