The Israeli occupation authorities have decided to expel the director of Human Rights Watch’s office in Jerusalem Omar Shakir.
Israel’s Minister of Interior Aryeh Deri on Tuesday issued a decision ordering Shakir to leave Israel within 14 days.
Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry said the decision was based on Shakir’s support for the anti-Israel Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
A US citizen of Iraqi origin Shakir wrote on Twitter that this is the first time Israel orders a Human Rights Watch official out adding that the real aim behind this move is to muzzle dissent.
For its part Human Rights Watch organization announced its full support for Shakir and called on the Israeli authorities to reconsider their decision pointing out that it is determined to appeal the decision at an Israeli court.
