Palestinian Authority (PA) security services arrested on Tuesday prominent Palestinian professor Abdul-Sattar Qassim, Quds Press reported.

Qassim, 68, is one of the most outspoken Palestinian political analysts in the West Bank, often criticising PA corruption and security cooperation with Israel.

A PA spokesman eventually acknowledged the arrest of Qassim, but claimed he was not arrested because of his political background.

Qassim’s wife Amal al-Ahmad challenged the legality of the arrest. “This is an illegal kidnapping,” she said.

It is worth noting that Fatah accused Qassim of making inflammatory remarks against the PA and President Mahmoud Abbas during an interview. However, Qassim denied this in a statement. “This is lying and not more than fake claims,” the statement read.

Several Palestinian academic bodies and politicians, including the Palestinian Parliament, have condemned the arrest of Qassim, calling for his immediate release.

(MEMO)