| Lawyers for Justice is monitoring with grave concern the continued detention of syndicalist activist Mohammad Al-Arouri for a period of two days pending investigation, pursuant to a decision issued by the Ramallah Magistrate Court. This detention persists despite his deteriorating health conditions and his advanced age of 76 years; he is currently being held by the Preventive Security Service. It is noted that Al-Arouri serves as a member of the General Secretariat of the General Federation of Palestinian Workers, a member of the Central Council of the FIDA Party, and a member of the Palestinian National Council of the PLO, and is recognized as a prominent syndicalist and national figure. The detention of Al-Arouri was executed on charges of “Defamation of Authority” in connection with posts published on “Facebook,” within a context that falls under the persecution of freedom of opinion and expression. The defense team from Lawyers for Justice submitted a motion for release on bail; however, the court decided to dismiss the application. Lawyers for Justice affirms that the detention of individuals on the basis of expressing an opinion or criticism, regardless of its intensity, constitutes a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Palestinian Amended Basic Law. Furthermore, it represents an infringement upon the international obligations of the State of Palestine, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the freedom of opinion and expression. Accordingly, the Group demands the immediate release of activist Mohammad Al-Arouri, the cessation of all forms of prosecution based on the expression of opinion, and the assurance of respect for constitutional and international human rights standards. Lawyers for Justice April 21, 2026 |
