Several Palestinians and Romanian citizens were called to the police before and after a support rally in Bucharest on October 21 in University Square to discuss the demonstration and to tell them “not to break the law,” Libertatea reported.

A Palestinian living in the province was called to the police station, but without an official document. Because he didn’t show up at the designated area, a police crew approached the man for a “friendly chat,” as the Palestinian describes it.

“They asked me for three things: not to go to the rally in Bucharest – although I had no intention of doing so – not to talk to Romanians or other foreigners about the war, about Israel or Palestine, and not to post anything on Facebook about what is happening there,” – the man stated.

The police also contacted other Palestinians. Another rally participant said that he had the same conversation with the officer, only over the phone.

“A Romanian security friend called me before the protest and told me not to make illegal posts. But it was not a threat. I understood his request because Romania is a democratic country where we have freedom and we do not want to lose the rights we enjoy. I was only told not to break the law. It’s normal,” the Palestinian told Freedom on condition of anonymity.

The newspaper said on Wednesday that it had spoken to several Palestinians who confirmed that they had had such interactions with Romanian police or that they knew others who had.

And the citizens who support Palestine said that they were approached by the Romanian police.

“Let’s be careful what we publish”

Ruxandra, who published news and videos from the Gaza Strip, received a phone call from the Chief Commissioner of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR). At first she did not know why she had been summoned, finding out the reason the next day after arriving at the IGPR headquarters on Stefan cel Mare Road, where the discussion turned into a sort of interrogation.

“I was asked how I started supporting Palestine, whether I have relatives and friends in Gaza, whether I know Palestinians from Romania. I was asked if I had been to the rally – I said no – then asked if I had watched it online and what I thought. I was even asked if my friends text as often as I do,” Ruksandra described communication with the police.

Ruksandra said she didn’t feel intimidated, but her husband did, who asked her to stop posting pro-Palestinian content online.

“Let’s be careful with what we publish, because some have gone as far as threats,” the policemen allegedly told him at the end of the discussion.

And Christian, a 53-year-old man who says he has been a Palestinian rights activist since 2016, said he was summoned to the IGPR headquarters but was not surprised.

“They were concerned about us not doing crazy, illegal things. I assured them that we are peaceful, that everything we do is legal,” Christian said.

IGPR spokesman Octavian Dan denied the police actions.

“I cannot confirm. These are rumours. I’ll check again, but I don’t have any information on the subject. In any case, we do not deal with such things,” said the head.

IGPR reaction, according to information published in the press

At midday on Wednesday, after the publication of the Libertatea article, the IGPR officially announced that the police are acting “to prevent any risk that may threaten public order” based on data and information, and “the institutions in Romania are ready, mobilized and ready to intervene if this the situation will require.”

We continue to reproduce the point of view of the IGPR, transmitted after the emergence of information about the summoning of citizens of Romania and Palestine to the police department.

• “The Romanian police, together with other responsible institutions on the ground, constantly conducts, based on the law on organization and activity, measures to prevent events that may affect public order and security.
• Thus, the Romanian police is a specialized state institution that fulfills the duties of protecting basic human rights and freedoms, private and public property, preventing and solving crimes, maintaining public order and tranquility, in accordance with the law.
• As has been made public to date, these measures are mainly preventive in nature and are carried out in a timely manner, according to reports/notices.
• Data and information are analyzed to prevent any risk that could endanger public order, and Romanian institutions are alert, mobilized and ready to intervene if the situation requires it.
• The number of personnel in the areas of interest was also increased, and cooperation with internal and external partners was carried out.
• At the same time, the Romanian police understands and supports the rights and freedoms of citizens and does not limit the right to free expression of views.”