In an August 24, 2024 series of posts on X, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network condemned the same-day arrest in France of Pavel Durov, the CEO of the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, on allegations relating to illegal activities taking place on the platform.[1]
Samidoun, which is affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, praised Telegram as "one of the few outlets where public channels for Palestinian & regional resistance are widely available."[2] It continued: "This French warrant [for Durov's arrest] comes just one day after the EU ordered one of the most popular English-language channels with news from the Resistance, Resistance News Network (t.me/PalestineResist) banned in the EU." The channel then listed a "backup" Telegram account for the Resistance News Network.
The series of posts went on to condemn the widespread "censorship" of "resistance orgs on the front lines defending humanity against genocide in Gaza, through Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen" on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Noting that Samidoun was subjected to the same "censorship," it added that Western designations of groups as terror organizations "have no value internationally".
The channel then suggested that Durov was arrested in effort to "suppress global popular resistance" to the war in Gaza. It wrote: "We are very concerned that France is detaining Mr Durov in order to induce Telegram to silence & kick off Palestinian and regional resistance and news channels in order to suppress global popular resistance to the ongoing Zionist-imperialist genocide in Gaza... Of course, here we note and express our full solidarity with the hundreds of people facing charges and investigations (and even jail time!) throughout France for so-called 'glorification of terror' for upholding the legitimate Palestinian armed struggle..."
Samidoun's X post condemning the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov
Samdoun's posts alleging that Durov as part of efforts to suppress support for Palestinian armed resistance.
Samidoun has an active presence on social media, where it disseminates content glorifying U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. For example, on May 5, 2024, the organization interviewed Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official and U.S.-Specially Designated Global Terrorist. It advertised the interview in a post on its X account. The account remains active as of this writing.
On June 24, Samidoun announced on X that its officialYouTube channel has been blocked, as well as the channel of Samidoun's International Coordinator Charlotte Kates.[3]
Samidoun's post on X, advertising the live interview with Hamas official Ghazi Hamad
[1] Apnews.com/article/france-russia-telegram-paris-durov-arrest-63cd8e5663c6b6f3404745866d662954, august 25, 2024.
[2] X.com/SamidounPP/status/1827510761318707349, August 24, 2024.
[3] See MEMRI Cyber and Jihad Lab Report YouTube Shuts Down YouTube Channels Of PFLP-Affiliated Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, June 28, 2024; MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11421 – PFLP-Linked Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network Leads 250 International Pro-Jihadi, Anti-Israel Organizations In Statement Of Support For Yemeni Attacks On U.S. And UK Targets, Solidarity With Iran-Lead 'Axis Of Resistance'; Samidoun YouTube Channels Subsequently Blocked, June 26, 2024.
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