Statement Issued by Lawyers for Justice On the Detention and Subsequent Release of Community Activist Ramah Al-Bayaa over Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Lawyers for Justice is deeply concerned over the case of community activist Ramah Al-Bayaa (62 years old) from the town of Beitunia, who was arrested last Thursday evening from her home by the Palestinian police’s General Investigations Unit, without the presentation of an official arrest warrant, according to her testimony. Mrs. Al-Bayaa was interrogated over posts she had published on Facebook and was charged with defaming the Authority under the Cybercrime Law—an excessive and abusive use of this law against public freedoms and freedom of expression. In her testimony to our team, Mrs. Al-Bayaa stated that she was subjected to ill-treatment during interrogation and detention despite her difficult health condition and her suffering from chronic illnesses. She was later transferred to the Military Medical Services before being held for four days at the women’s detention facility in the Balouʿ area – Al-Bireh. She was brought before the Magistrate Court judge in Ramallah last Sunday, where the above-mentioned charge was formally filed against her, after which she was released on personal bail. We at Lawyers for Justice affirm that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and may not be restricted through the use of vague provisions in the Cybercrime Law. We categorically reject the ongoing practices of silencing voices and arbitrarily arresting activists based on their political positions or critical opinions. The group issues an urgent appeal to local and international human rights institutions, as well as to the UN Special Rapporteurs, to take immediate action to end the policy of persecution on the basis of opinion and to hold accountable all those involved in violations of fundamental human rights in Palestine. Lawyers for JusticeRamallah – PalestineDate: 18/09/2025