An invitation to attend trials of 35 human rights defenders and activists
Lawyers for Justice group invites all media organizations, civil society, local and international human rights institutions to attend ten public trial sessions of 35 human rights activists and defenders against participating in the “Enough is enough” movement in 2020. And on participating in the demonstrations condemning the assassination of activist Nizar Banat in June 2021. The group confirms that attending and monitoring these public hearings contributes to fair trial standards. Activists are being prosecuted for their participation in legal activities guaranteed by Palestinian law, freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law, and human rights treaties to which Palestine is a party. Their cases were listed under different charges, as follows: Stirring up racist strife, continuing to gather and not disperse except by force, Participating in an illegal gathering, breaching the state of emergency, and stirring up sectarian strife, defamation using the electronic network or any information technology means”. The sessions were postponed several times due to the absence of witnesses in the security services. Also, one of the sessions was postponed due to the absence of the witness, Ahmed Majdalani, Minister of Social Development. This continued absence of witnesses, whether intentionally or because they were not informed, led to the delay in the trial, in violation of fair trial guarantees, as is the case with the “Enough” movement activists who have been on trial for more than a year. Accordingly, as the Lawyers for Justice group pleads as an attorney for the defense of activists and human rights, it calls on civil and human rights institutions and the media to attend on Sunday 19/12/2021 at the Ramallah Magistrate Court, where the sessions begin at nine in the morning.
Lawyers for Justice: The arrest of activist Moussa Nazzal, under the custody of the governor, is against the law
In cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Office, the Lawyers for Justice group was able to locate the place of detention of activist Musa Nazzal “Al-Sawy” in Qalqilya, where he is detained under the custody of the governor of Qalqilya.The General Intelligence Service, where he is held, has prevented the family of the detainee “Al-Sawy” from visiting him, which is a cause for concern about the conditions of his detention and his health condition.Since 7/12/2021, General Intelligence arrested “Al-Sawy” without an arrest warrant. The Lawyers for Justice group did not find any file for his case with the Public Prosecution, which means that the arrest was carried out arbitrarily and illegally.The detention under the governor’s custody violates the Palestinian Penal Procedures Law No. (3) of 2001, where Article 29 of it states that: “No one may be arrested or imprisoned except by an order from the legally competent authority”. In this case, the competent authority according to the law is the Civil Public Prosecution, as it is a competent authority in establishing and conducting criminal proceedings.Moreover, detained him for seven consecutive days without a trial violates the Palestinian Basic Law, which states in Article (12): “Anyone who is arrested or detained shall be informed of the reasons for his arrest and detention. And shall be informed promptly in a language he understands of the accusation against him, be able to contact a lawyer and be brought to trial without delay.”Today, the group appealed to the Public Prosecutor for his immediate release in light of his illegal arrest procedures.The Lawyers for Justice group affirms that they will follow up on the “Al-Sawy” case, in addition to following up on political detainees, until their freedom is guaranteed, their release, and the emptying of all political prisons.