A/HRC/19/20 in violation of Palestinian Basic Law (art. 106). In August 2011, ICHR documented 17 complaints regarding the non-implementation of decisions issued by both the Palestinian High Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance in the West Bank.43 In some cases, although Palestinian Authority security agencies implement the High Court‟s decisions on the release of detainees, they frequently nullify the practical effects by detaining released persons under the pretext of other charges. Therefore, release orders are implemented, but affected persons are summoned and detained again. Although arbitrary detention in the West Bank is outlawed by the Palestinian Basic Law and the Law of Penal Procedure No. 3 of 2001,44 the situation on the ground is different. Executive authorities need to take effective measures against arbitrary detention. 2. Civil rights, including freedoms of expression, association and assembly 43. Freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law. However, during the reporting period some Palestinian actors took action in some cases to curtail this right. Palestinian security services in the West Bank curtailed the freedom of journalists and media professionals. Announcements in April 2011 on possible Fatah and Hamas reconciliation had a positive impact on journalists‟ freedom to exercise their profession. This also allowed for the return of journalists and other personnel of Palestine TV to the Gaza Strip, and of AlAqsa TV to the West Bank. 44. During the protests calling for national unity that were organized in March 2011 in different cities and towns in the West Bank, violations by PSS and the General Intelligence Agency against journalists in the West Bank were reported. On 15 March, a group of unidentified persons attacked journalists in plain sight of security services personnel stationed near the protest tent at AlManara Square in Ramallah. Based on the complaints received by ICHR from two journalists (one foreign and one Palestinian), the Palestinian Authority policemen did not try to protect them. The Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), with which OHCHR met, reported that attacks on journalists “continued to hinder their work and endanger their lives”. 45. In August 2011, the Prosecutor-General of the Palestinian Authority decided to stop airing a Palestine TV show called Watan ala Watar (Homeland on a String). Palestine TV was ordered to stop airing the satirical programme as it allegedly offended and humiliated a large number of Palestinians. In the same month, Professor Abdel Sattar Qassem was arrested and held in custody following the publishing of an article. He was later released following a personal appeal to the President of the Palestinian Authority. 46. The Islamic Liberation Party (Hizb al-Tahrir) annually commemorates the fall of the Islamic Caliphate. The commemoration usually takes the form of a series of lectures ending with a central conference and a march in Ramallah. The intervention of Palestinian Authority security forces this year resulted in clashes with members of the party. In June 2011 the party received confirmation by relevant authorities of the Palestinian Authority that they had no objection to the demonstration planned for 2 July 2011. On the appointed day, members of the 43 44 16 ICHR August Monthly Report: http://home.ichr.ps/en/2/5/612/August-Report-onviolations-of-HR-August-Report-on-violations-of-HR.htm. Penal Procedure Law No. 3 of 2001: www.courts.gov.ps/pdf/Law%203%202001%20Penal%20Procedures.pdf.