Literature festival shut down by police in Gaza [View all]

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Security forces in the Gaza Strip shut down the fifth Palestine Festival of Literature late Wednesday, sparking outrage from participants and an apology by the chief of police.

The festival's final event was ordered to close down by police forces, organizers said Thursday, even though the event was coordinated by the ministry of culture in Gaza. Police said it lacked a permit.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemned the action and described it as "a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to peaceful assembly".

The center said that after a speech by Amru Izzat on liberty, a security officer wearing civilian clothes arrived at the festival and described himself as a member of the police investigation department.

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