Swiss Security Official Who Jailed And Smeared Ali Abunimah is a fanatical pro-Israel activist

Mario Fehr, who has boasted of banning Palestine solidarity demos, may have relied on bogus accusations by a Zionist lobby group to order Abunimah's detention

The Swiss official who ordered the arrest of renowned Palestinian-American journalist Ali Abunimah justified doing so on the false and defamatory basis that Abunimah is “an Islamist Jew-hater.” In the past, Fehr has taken pride in banning Palestine solidarity demonstrations. Mario Fehr, the head of Zurich’s Department of Security, made the bogus accusation in a recent comment to the Swiss publication NZZ, which also falsely characterized Abunimah as an “Islamist” and an “extremist.”

Swiss authorities detained Abunimah on Jan. 25, after they initially allowed him entry into Switzerland following an hour-long interrogation. Abunimah was deported on Jan. 27 after two nights, during which Swiss officials refused to tell him whether he was being charged with a crime. According to the Swiss newspaper NZZ, officers in Zurich successfully petitioned federal police for an arrest warrant after realizing Abunimah had travelled to the country in order to deliver a speech at an event organized by the Zurich Palestine Committee. Fehr explained the arrest by stating, in reference to self-described “non-religious person” Ali Abunimah: “We do not want an Islamist Jew-hater who calls for violence in Switzerland.”

It’s unclear how Fehr came to adopt this patently false claim, but the article in NZZ gives a hint. In painting the secular Abunimah as a jihadist, the story’s authors relied on a leader of a little-known group called “Never Again Is Now,” (NAIN) which characterizes itself as “the only non-profit organization in Switzerland dedicated exclusively to combating antisemitism,” says it “demands the uncompromising enforcement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism,” and claims: “we… defend Israel against anti-Zionist agendas.”

NZZ quoted one of the group’s board members, Thomas Patzko, as stating “Abunimah and his platform are a mouthpiece for Hamas.” The outlet cited NAIN while insisting that Abunimah “delegitimizes the victims of the terrorist attack on October 7, specifically women and children” – a reference to Abunimah’s factual statement that “there is no credible evidence of a single rape on October 7.”

It’s not yet apparent whether these false accusations by Swiss media or the Zionist group led directly to Abunimah’s deportation. But at some point prior to Abunimah’s scheduled address, “the Zurich [regional] police had become aware of Abunimah’s planned appearance,” NZZ reported. “They had submitted a request to Fedpol for an entry ban,” the outlet wrote, adding “this request was granted” by “the responsible government councilor and security director Mario Fehr.”

What is clear, however, is the Zurich security chief’s allegiance to the Zionist narrative. At a “Rally in solidarity with Israel” on Oct. 10, 2023, Fehr openly stated that “the fate of Israel and its inhabitants is close to my heart” before rattling off a comprehensive list of pro-Israel talking points, ranting about Iran and quoting notoriously racist Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, while demanding the Swiss government cease funding any development projects in Palestine.

🔗SOURCE ➡️ The Grayzone

Related: 1/29 — Trump Just Signed An Executive Order To Combat "Anti-semitism." It Builds Upon His 2019 Order Mandating The So-Called "IHRA" Definition, Which Includes Applying "Double Standards" To Israel. Violations Could Result In Criminal Prosecution Of Americans, Not Just Foreign Nationals

1/26 — Richard Medhurst: The Police Are (again) Seeking To Extend Their "Terrorism" Investigation... Til May 2025 At Least.

1/26- Electronic Intifada's Ali Abunimah was arrested by Swiss cops before a speaking event in Zurich today, and is now detained

10/17/24- 🚨👮🏼‍♂️🇬🇧🇮🇱 UK Police Raid Home, Seize Devices of EI’s Asa Winstanley — Electronic Intifada [EI]

Follow ➡️ @PsyopDaily