UNSILENCE PALESTINE. Freedom of Expression in and around Palestine
A session dedicated to freedom of expression inside and outside Palestine, focusing on legal and administrative obstacles, the criminalisation of organisations, censorship and platform moderation, digital surveillance, and risks faced by journalists and activists. It will feature shared experiences and insights on how to communicate, document, and protect voices in contexts of high pressure.
Speakers
Nadim Nashif
Digital rights defender and General Director of the organisation 7amleh
Founder and General Director of 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, an organisation promoting the digital rights and online activism of the Palestinian people. With over twenty years of experience in community development and human rights, he has founded initiatives such as Baladna and the Wusol Digital Academy. Member of Al-Shabaka and of the advisory board of the Digital Democracy Initiative.
Diana Alzeer
Head of Strategic Outreach and Communications at Al-Haq and Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Palestinian communicator and human rights defender with experience in both local and international civil society organisations. Graduated in Journalism and Sociology from Birzeit University and holds a Master’s in Political Science and International Relations from Durham University. At Al-Haq, she leads global communication strategies to raise awareness of human rights violations in Palestine.
Sami Abu Salem
Journalist and coordinator of the Community Media Development Center (CDMC) in Gaza
He is one of the most lucid and resilient voices in Gazan journalism. Through the CDMC, he leads initiatives that give marginalized groups access to media platforms and promote reporting rooted in everyday life under siege. With a career that blends rigor and social commitment, he has spent years documenting the human consequences of occupation and war, often writing and filming from improvised shelters in Gaza City. His work, which has inspired international projects such as the documentary GAZA. A Story of Love and War, stands as a testament to dignity amid destruction.
Aarti Narsee
Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer at the European Civic Forum
A South African intersectional feminist, trained journalist, and civic space expert. At the European Civic Forum she leads research and advocacy to defend freedom of association, assembly and expression across Europe, working with NGOs and grassroots movements. Previously at the CIVICUS Monitor, she documented restrictions in Europe, Central Asia and the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and advanced collaborative advocacy strategies. A 2018 Chevening alumna, she brings a decolonial, intersectional lens to policy analysis, blending strong storytelling and evidence to drive concrete policy change.
Hamdi Shaqqura
Deputy Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
A lawyer and human rights defender. At PCHR he leads the documentation of war crimes in Gaza —including torture and arbitrary detention— and provides legal support to victims. Despite displacement and the loss of colleagues, he keeps field teams operating and advances cases before international bodies so truth and accountability move forward. His work amplifies survivors’ voices and upholds the hope of equal justice for all.
Joan Roura
Editor for the International section of Catalan public TV (TV3), expert on the Mashrek region
International editor at TV3 and veteran correspondent. Since 1982 he has covered the Arab–Israeli conflict, the wars in Iraq and Lebanon, the 2011 Egyptian uprising and the war in Syria. He brings a critical, human-centred perspective to global affairs and their impact on people’s lives.
How to arrive
- Metro
- L4 Jaume I - L1 / L4 Urquinaona
- Bus
- V15, 47, 120, H16