Abbas threatens press freedom with blanket ban on criticism

Palestinian human rights activists have warned that a recent edict from President Mahmoud Abbas threatens to remove what remains of press freedom left in the country.

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (Mada) said the new order is the most far-reaching threat to the right of expression made by Abbas and has had a chilling effect on democracy.

Abbas' office has denied the claims, saying the law only "criminaliaes distortion, defamation and slandering".

The law specifically censors any threat made to the "national unity" or the "social fabric."

The government has blocked 30 websites in the past month, mainly linked to opposition groups, Mada said.