Palestinian man arrested for naming his baby after Abbas rival Dahlan

Dahlan was expelled from Fatah several years ago after falling out with PA President.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinians hold posters of Mohammed Dahlan during a Gaza rally, December 18, 2014 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinians hold posters of Mohammed Dahlan during a Gaza rally, December 18, 2014
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority security forces on Tuesday arrested a Ramallah man who named his newborn baby after ousted Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan.
The family of Hani Abu Sloum said he was arrested by officers belonging to the PA’s Military Intelligence as he was on his way back from the Ministry of Interior, where he sought to name the baby after Dahlan.
Dahlan, who is based in the United Arab Emirates, was expelled from Fatah several years ago after falling out with PA President Mahmoud Abbas and his two sons. Abbas has accused Dahlan of financial corruption and murder.
Abu Sloum’s family told the Palestinian Amad news agency that when he went to the Ministry of Interior earlier this week to register the name of his son as Mohamed Dahlan, the clerk told him to return the following day.
As the father was on his way home, he was intelligence officers stopped him and took him into custody after beating him and tearing his clothes, the family said.
Abu Sloum was recently released from a PA prison after spending five months in detention without trial or charges. He previously worked in the Ramallah-based office of Fatah legislators from the Gaza Strip. Some of these legislators are known as supporters of Dahlan.