Lawyers for Justice: Closure of 7 Palestinian civil and human rights institutions is a new Israeli aggression on human rights
Lawyers for Justice condemns the closure of the occupation, seven human rights and civil institutions, Thursday, August 18, 2022, in Ramallah: (Al-Haq Foundation, Addameer Foundation for Prisoner Care and Human Rights, Bisan Center for Research and Development, the International Movement for Defense of Children, and Action Committees Agriculture, the Health Work Committees Corporation, and the Union of Women’s Committees), attacks on their facilities, theft of their property, and closing their doors. Lawyers for Justice emphasizes that this closure is a blatant attack on the human rights community in the Palestinian territories, and attempt to disguise everyone who tries to expose the occupation and its crimes against the Palestinians, an attempt that began by classifying six out of the seven institutions attacked today as terrorist institutions last year. Lawyers for Justice believes that because the satisfaction of the international community and the Palestinian Authority work in condemning the classification of institutions as terrorist, without taking any real action to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its aggression, it has opened the way for more violations practiced by the Israeli occupation government, army and settlers against the Palestinians in their various places of residence. As the Lawyers for Justice declares its solidarity with the seven institutions, it calls on the international community, civil society, civil and human rights organizations to stand up to its responsibilities in a practical way to prosecute the occupation and ensure the functioning of these institutions without fear. It also calls on the Palestinian Authority to go seriously to try the occupation in international courts, away from prosecuting it only in the speeches and statements.
Allegations of torture made by political detainee Abdel-Wahhab Hamad
Lawyers for Justice denounces that the detainee Abd al-Wahhab Hamad, 21 years, from Nablus, was tortured during his detention at the Preventive Security forces, according to what he told the group’s lawyer today, Thursday, August 11, 2022. According to Hamad, he suffered a work injury in the shoulder before he got arrest. He was deliberately beaten on the place of injury, neck and head, during interrogation against a political background. During today’s court session, the Nablus Magistrate’s Court issued a decision to extend Hamad’s detention for 10 days, on the grounds of a political charge, at the request of the Public Prosecution to complete the investigation. The Preventive Security forces arrested Hamad on August 9, 2022, from his home after 1:30 at night. Lawyers for Justice is concerned about the allegations of torture made by Abdel Wahab Hamad, expresses its deep concern for his health, safety and security, makes an urgent appeal for his immediate release, and the accountability of those who beat him, and those who violated the Palestinian Basic Law and Human Rights in dealing with Hamad and the detainees Politicians with whom the group has previously documented allegations of torture.
Lawyers for Justice in the face of incitement by the executive organs
Again, the executive bodies and their employees continue their incitement against the Lawyers for Justice to prevent it from exercising its human rights work and defending the rights of activists and citizens, especially after the rise of the violations of the executive authority in the last two months. Unfortunately, the Lawyers for Justice group is following up the attempts of the security forces to pressure the political detainee’s families who the group is following, pushing them to withdraw their confidence from the group, as well as the distortion, incitement, and misinformation practiced by the forces against the group’s lawyers who are deployed in various governorates of the West Bank. in addition to lies on their tongues in front of the detainees and their families. In addition, the legal advisors of the security forces are trying to restrict the group’s lawyers during their normal work in pleading with the detainees and attending the investigation sessions, which are guaranteed by Palestinian law. These advisors, in cooperation with the forces in which they work, seek to issue subpoenas for the lawyers of the Lawyers for Justice. We affirm that the incitement that Lawyers for Justice is facing has not stopped since the group began its work in 2011, but it increases with every campaign of political arrests, every persistence in violating the law, and every belief by responsibles that they can adapt the law according to their interests, not according to justice. We at Lawyers for Justice assure that all restrictions and incitement against us will not weaken our position in defending human rights, and we will continue our legal and human rights activities in any attack on rights and freedoms that are protected by the Palestinian Basic Law and have not been safeguarded by the executive forces and their users. with respect for trial guarantees of justice that do not justify arbitrary arrest, torture, and beatings, whatever the act or accusation against any accused person.
New violations: more than 10 decisions to extend the detention of activists
Today, Sunday, July 24, 2022, the Jericho Court of First Instance extended the detention of fellow trainee lawyer Ahmed Al-Khasib, Jihad Wahdan, and Alaa Ghanem for 45 days, at the request of the Public Prosecution, and against a political background. The political detainees concluded last week with a series of extensions of their detention at the request of the Public Prosecution. The extension decisions followed up by Lawyers for Justice were as follows: – The Jericho Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Birzeit University student Qassam Hamayel for 15 days, due to his student activity. – The Ramallah Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Muhammad Mahmoud Sheikh, Muhammad Suleiman, Islam Arar, Anas Sahweil and Mahdi al-Rimawi for 15 days on a political ground. – The Jericho Court of First Instance extended the detention of Ahmed Harish and Munther Raheeb for 45 days on a political ground. – Ramallah Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Muhammad Farouk Khaled for 7 days on a political ground.– The Jericho Magistrate’s Court extended Moath Saleh’s detention for 15 days. A Lawyers for Justice confirms that the charges attached to the detainees are politically motivated charges, far from any legal evidence, which was confirmed by the nature of the interrogation with the detainees, which takes a political turn. Lawyers for Justice condemns the continued detention of activists, human rights defenders, and citizens, some of whom will be close to two months after their arrest, without regard to public freedoms and the Palestinian Basic Law. The Lawyers for Justice group calls for all to stand as civil society institutions, human rights defenders and journalists, to move for the release of all detainees, and to stop the series of political arrests, which have escalated in the recent period.
A public opinion statement on the enforcement of the decisions of the new laws approved by the President of the Executive Authority, Mahmoud Abbas
The Supreme Judicial Council proceeds to work on the legal amendments related to the provisions of civil and criminal procedures approved by the President of the Executive Authority, Mahmoud Abbas; in light of obstruction of the Legislative Authority for many years in order to legislate laws that achieve justice and equity for people. The Lawyers for Justice group is following the start of validity of a set of laws approved by the President of the Executive Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, despite all the problems it faces, especially those related to the penal section that was approved by the executive authority in accordance with the provisions of the state of necessity due to the obstruction of the Legislative Council, and because of the obstacles from holding elections based on decision that canceled it on April last year. The executive authority was not satisfied with canceling the elections, which had been interrupted for more than fifteen years as a result of political division between the Palestinian political parties, rather, it practiced repression and political arrest on the basis of political affiliation and freedom of speech and expression, also practiced torture in many documented cases. Lawyers for Justice group sees these repressive measures that have been practiced by the Palestinian Authority and still practice for many years, arrests, repression and prosecutions based on criticism of its internal policies or its relationship with the occupation authorities; as an introduction that has been founded to legalize this repression. The executive authority was not satisfied with postponing the holding of the general elections, or even setting a new date for holding them, but it has become a new reality in which the human rights situation has worsened with the number of laws it issued during the past two years, but also for what was preceded before, like the adoption of the “Cybercrime Law” in 2018, which is used as a sword in the neck of freedoms. And What followed was the approval of the new Judicial Authority Law, which loses the prestige and independence of the judge and puts him on trial for a period of three years, during which he will be under the influence of illegal oversight for those who want to bind the judiciary and destroy constitutional principles sanctioned by the Palestinian Basic Law. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice groups confirms that the adoption of the new amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedures that have entered into force; It fundamentally affects the fair trial guarantees that were guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and the agreements to which the Palestinian Authority has signed and is a party of. Thus, the group considers these amendments as part of the policy of legalizing the repression practiced by the executive forces at a time when the pace of this repression is intensifying. The group also emphasizes that the continued flow of laws issued by the head of the executive authority, the continuity of these new laws, and the continued obstruction of holding fair legislative elections; It reinforces the prevailing state of repression and abolishes the principle of judicial independence and the separation between authorities without any oversight or accountability for many crimes committed in the name of the law.
The latest updates in the case of the accused in the assassination of political critic Nizar Banat
The trial session of the 14 whom are accused in the case of the assassination of the critic and political activist Nizar Banat; was held this morning, 03/07/2022, in the Military Court in Ramallah. All the accused were present, the defense attorney, a representative of Lawyers for Justice, and representatives of two other institutions, one local and one international to cover the progress of the trial. And It is worth noting that this is the first session a year after the assassination of Banat. And to expedite the completion of the trial, according to the defense attorney; He dispensed with the witness he had presented before (Major-General in Security), also he asked the court to give him a time limit, so that he and the competent authorities could bring an international expert from outside Palestine to present it as one of his evidence. The details of the expert’s name and address were not disclosed, due to the sensitivity of the expert’s name and to prevent any influence of public opinion on the expert. Then the defense attorney gave a copy of the letter in which the details of the international expert were included to the court, and asked them to reserve the letter, and include it in the trial papers without anyone viewing it. He also asked the court to assist in the procedures for bringing the international expert to Palestine, which needs time up to two months, and also for his desire to benefit from the judicial leave from 15/07/2022 until 01/09/2022. The court agreed to the defense attorney’s request that the next session be the last period for summoning witnesses from his side, thus, the next session will be on Tuesday, 06/09/2022 at 10:00 am.
The consideration of the appeal has been postponed in the case of journalist Abdul Rahman Thaher
Nablus Court of First Instance, in its appellate capacity, postpones consideration of the appeal submitted by the defense in the trial file of the journalist and satirical artist; Abdul Rahman Thaher until 08/08/2022و to appeal the decision of the Nablus Magistrate’s Court to convict journalist Thahir for defaming the authority on the grounds of his accusation of insulting the security forces “during a private, non-public conversation.” The Magistrate’s Court in Nablus had also acquitted journalist Thahir of other charges in the same file, after the aforementioned journalist was prosecuted for his journalistic work and for presenting critical political programmes.
The political detainee Ahmad Hraish is being tortured
Lawyers for Justice group requests an urgent call for immediate intervention, in order to release political detainee Ahmed Hraish, who has been detained since 6/6/2022 by the intelligence agency in Jericho, related to what is known as the Beituniya carpentry case. The group, since 14/06/2022, mentioned in a statement that the detainee Hraish had stated earlier in the Jericho Magistrate’s Court that he had been subjected to torture, as following: “I am in Jericho’s prison cells since a week, they used strappado or corda (which the victim’s hands are tied behind his back and the victim is suspended by a rope attached to the wrists), my face is fully covered i couldn’t see anything through the cover, i was being hung and beaten with sticks and rubber, they used Falaka with me (Foot whipping, or bastinado is a method of inflicting pain and humiliation by administering a beating on the soles of a person’s bare feet) then they told me to stand up and dance. I’ve been tortured by bricks, iron, running reverse, and other torturing methods..”. Then, on 28/06/2022, Hraish stated in front of the Judge Diab al-Qawasmeh again, that he was constantly being tortured by the intelligence agaency in Jericho after the extension of the detention session, which took place on 14/06/2022. Yesterday, the detainee Hraish also declared before the General Attorney that he had been subjected to torture, and stated that there were efforts to compel him to accept very serious criminal charges that undermine his reputation and patriotism. The group requests an URGENT call for immediate intervention, and it is in the process of addressing all the competent official authorities in order to ensure the opening of a serious investigation into allegations of torture, and to demand the prosecution of a complaint of torture in accordance with due process of law fair trial.
Public opinion statement on the continuation of mass political arrests and arrests based on opinion
Lawyers for Justice group is following the mass of political arrests and arrests based on exercising constitutional rights, carried out by the executive authority, which has taken a noticeably escalating trend since the beginning of this June. The group has recorded, as part of its direct follow-up, more than 63 arrests, distributed among the cities of the occupied West Bank. For administrative detention, 4 of them are under the custody of the governor of Qalqilya, while one case was referred to the governor of Ramallah and two cases were released later. The types of the charges in these files varied between stirring up strife and racism, illegal gathering, accusations of collecting and receiving illegal funds, possession of a weapon without a license, and slander against the authority. During this period, the group has continued following up the mass arrests that followed what was known as the Beitounia carpentry case, where about twenty people were arrested regarding this case. Later on the majority of the detainees were released in this case, but some detainees were referred to the Joint Investigation Committee, or what is known as the Security Committee in Jericho. Where one of the detainees raised claims of torture in front of the judge of the Jericho Magistrate’s Court, while some lawyers present in the vicinity of the court mentioned seeing traces on the face of the detainee; lawyer Ahmed Khasib, suggesting that he was subjected to torture, before the aforementioned detainee later denied being tortured during his interrogation by the Public Prosecution in Jericho. The group also monitored the arrest and detention of 15 people among the aforementioned detainees based on “we want to live” movement in the city of Hebron, after the dispersal the demonstrators who were rejecting the exorbitant price hike in basic goods and services, 8 of them were referred to the security committee in Jericho, before all detainees were released on that case, after efforts made by the Independent Commission for Human Rights ICHR. The group also documented the exposure of the detainee Suleiman Qatash; He was later released, for being beaten by Preventive Security agents in front of the court, while he was being returned to the detention center, in addition to the aforementioned claim, during his interrogation in front the Ramallah Prosecution, that he was beaten by the aforementioned entity. Accordingly, the group confirms that all these arrests listed within the framework of political arrests on the basis of political affiliation, and all these arrests take place without the presence or presentation of any arrest warrant from the competent authorities, which is considered a violation of the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights conventions. The group also confirms that if it is proven that any detainee has been beaten or tortured, these acts must be pursuited as it is considered a crime punishable by law, requiring the intervention of the Attorney General. And stopping the summons, out of respect for the Palestinian Basic Law, from which the political system derives its law, and the need to stop the policy of political arrest and detention based on exercising guaranteed constitutional rights. The group notes that it has documented hundreds of arrests during the period following the assassination of the late political critic Nizar Banat.
Arrest under the Governor’s custody in June
Since the beginning of June, the group has followed up on 5 administrative arrests pending under the governor decision, including 4 cases in the custody of the governor of Qalqilya and one in the custody of the governor of Ramallah. The group had obtained several previous decisions from the High Court of Justice in similar cases of detention; it had ruled that the arrest of the governor was false and illegal, in which it assaulted and exceeded the authority of the judiciary. Accordingly, the group asserts that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is the only legally competent body to prosecute any accused person of any nature of the charge, and that the use of the security services to arrest citizens in the custody of the governor aims to provide space for these organs to arbitrarily arrest citizens and conduct an illegal investigation outside the control of the court in which there is no minimum fair trial guarantees guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and human rights conventions.