Hamas to extend British journalist's detention

Hamas authorities plan to renew holding a British journalist in Gaza as a 15-day arrest warrant is about to expire, a spokesman said Sunday.

Paul Martin was arrested on Feb. 14 moments after arriving willingly at a Hamas military courthouse to testify for a Palestinian accused of collaborating with Israel.

"The prosecution will ask the court to extend Martin's detention to continue investigation with him," Ihab al-Ghussein, a spokesman for Hamas Interior Ministry, said.

Al-Ghussein refused to reveal the charges against Martin, but he said the British film-maker "poses a security threat."

Sources told Xinhua that Martin had produced a documentary on a Palestinian fighter who Hamas later charged with collaboration with Israel. Hamas accused Martin, who maintained contacts with the former fighter after he finished filming, of being "the connection ring between the spy" and Israel.

Meanwhile, Martin's lawyer, Sharhabeel al-Zaeem, said his client has not confessed anything during his interrogation.

"Martin came to Gaza voluntarily and I don't think that a convicted man would come by his own to the place where he is wanted," al-Zaeem told Xinhua.

The lawyer added he will raise an objection to any warrant extending Martin's detention.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6904906.html.