Lawyers for Justice

A position issued by the Lawyers for Justice group on the security services’ suppression of the demonstration demanding the release of political detainees

Lawyers for Justice followed with great concern the events in Nablus, the suppression of the Palestinian security services to the demonstration, demanding the release of political detainees, the arrest of some demonstrators, firing gas bombs at them, as well as the assault on journalists while they were covering this demonstration. The group monitored the practice of the security forces as a suppression of freedom of opinion and expression, which contravenes  article (19) of the Palestinian basic law, which states, “There is no prejudice to freedom of opinion, and every person has the right to express and publish his opinion verbally, in writing, or by other means of expression or art taking into account the provisions of the law.” It also contravenes Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” Lawyers for Justice also condemns the continuation of political arrests, and the assault on journalists while carrying out their duties and conveying the truth to citizens. Accordingly; Lawyers for Justice group asserts that the repression of any peaceful demonstration is an assault on a constitutional right, and an explicit violation of the Palestinian basic law that guarantees public freedoms for citizens within the scope of the law, and renews the call to guarantee freedom of opinion and expression, and guarantee freedom of affiliation, work and political participation which guaranteed by the basic law,  And human rights agreements to which the Palestinian Authority committed itself. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023

The Nablus Magistrate Court decided to release the political detainee, Mamoun Dweikat

Today, the Nablus Magistrate Court decided to release the political detainee, Mamoun Dweikat, on a personal guarantee of 5,000 Jordanian dinars; it is noteworthy that Dweikat has been detained by the Preventive Security since January 5, 2023, after he was summoned for an interview with them. The Public Prosecution charged Dwaikat with a political charge, which political detainees are usually charged with to justify their arrest. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023

Despite the allegations of torture raised by the political detainee, Mazyid Saqf Al-Hait; Nablus Magistrate Court extends his detention for five days

The Nablus Magistrate Court extended the detention of the political activist and critic of the Palestinian Authority, Mazyid Saqf Al-Hait, for a period of five days. The Preventive Security in Nablus had arrested Saqf Al-Hait on January 7, after his arrest, the Preventive Security stormed his house and searched his belongings. Today, Saqf Al-Hait told the court, in the presence of Lawyers for Justice, that he was beaten and ill-treated during his arrest and during his detention at the Preventive Security Service, but the court extended his detention under the pretext of the seriousness of the charge to the public order and security. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice is deeply concerned about the continued detention of the activist Saqfi al-Hait, which may be a prelude to the Preventive Security forces continuing to torture him. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023

Signing a memorandum of understanding with the legal clinic at the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University

Yesterday, Monday ,January 9, 2023, Lawyers for Justice signed a memorandum of understanding with the legal clinic at the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University, for the purposes of defining the foundations of joint cooperation between the two parties, and in particular the mechanisms of working with the legal clinic unit in the college. The memorandum was signed by the representative of Birzeit University, Dr. Mahmoud Dodin / Dean of the Faculty of Law, and a representative of the Lawyers for Justice group, Lawyer Muhannad Karajah / Director of the group, in the presence of Lawyer Thafer Saida from the group. head of the law department, Dr. Muhammad Al-Qaisi. And assistant professor dean Noor Matour.  The supervisor of the legal clinic, professor Muhammad Khader. And research and teaching assistants in the legal clinic. Dr. Dodin welcomed representatives of the “Lawyers for Justice” group, and pointed out the importance of signing this memorandum, in addition to the importance and role of the group in defending cases of political and administrative detention, especially defending the cases of Birzeit University students. He also asserted that this memorandum is the culmination of continuous cooperation between the college and the group. For his part, lawyer Muhannad highlighted the importance of the partnership with Birzeit University in enhancing and developing the students’ practical skills, in addition to spreading the societal legal culture, specifically in the field of political and administrative detention cases. He also referred to the reality and contribution of the legal clinic students in working on the cases that the group is currently working on. In his turn, Lawyer Thafer commented on the practical reality and issues of political detention and the role of the various State Apparatuses in these cases, and pointed out the importance of concerted efforts to discuss these issues from different angles, and the role of the diverse academic environment in providing the foundations for this discussion. Muhammad Al-Khidr asserted the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties in defining the clinic’s strategies and work mechanisms in implementing its activities in a way that leads to achieving its goals and objectives, and pointed to the clinic’s role in creating different communication channels between the academic and applied community sides, in order to qualify students and achieve their benefits. For his part, the Head of the Law Department, Dr. Al-Qaisi stated that this memorandum will be a basis for developing the benefits and relationship with the Lawyers for Justice group, whether in terms of developing students’ abilities or in terms of developing the academic path of the college, and this partnership will be taken into account when reviewing the plans and activities of the department in the future. It is noteworthy that strengthening the relationship with the legal clinic at Birzeit University aims to expand the areas of future cooperation and comes within the framework of the institutionalization of the legal clinic which activities are supported by the United Nations Development Program, the Sawasya 2 project, and helps in enhancing its ability to provide legal services to vulnerable groups and also to develop students’ practical skills through their participation in programs based on dealing with real issues and developing legal and human rights initiatives in order to strengthen the rule of law and respect for human rights, monitoring fair trial guarantees, confronting human rights violations, advocating human rights issues. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023 To follow the news of the detainees, you can join Lawyers for Justice community via WhatsApp through the following link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CuJR94yuhGp6Tdod1K6Mpi