PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Election Update No.12
Date: 21 January 2006
Violations of Electoral Campaigns Regulations

Mosque Sermons Openly Call for Voting for the "Change and Reform List"

PCHR observers have reported that dozens of Imams committed campaign
violations during Friday Prayer sermons on 20 January 2006. The Imams
openly called upon worshippers to vote for the Change and Reform List
candidates in their districts. The Change and Reform List is affiliated to
Hamas.

The violations included:

· Al-Sousi Mosque in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City: The Imam called
for voting for the Change and Reform List, and defamed other lists. Some
worshippers objected and a commotion ensued in the mosque. Some of the
worshipers brought the Imam down from the pulpit before he finished the
sermon. The situation almost deteriorated into a fight inside and outside
the mosque.

· A mosque in al-Zahra Town, south of Gaza City: The Imam called for
worshippers to vote for the Change and Reform List. Some of those attending
became angry and one hurled a water bottle at the Imam. A commotion ensued
inside the mosque.

These acts violate Elections Law No. 9 of 2005, which prohibits the use
mosques for campaigning activities, including hanging posters on walls and
using sermons to call for voting for certain candidates or parties.

PCHR calls upon all candidates to stop such campaigning activities and to
comply with the regulations of election campaigns to ensure the fairness of
elections.

"End"

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