Lawyers for Justice

Press conference to publish a report entitled “Ongoing Crisis; The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the WestBank”

The “Lawyers for Justice” group is honored to invite you to attend its press conference, which will include the publication of a report on the arbitrary arrests during the Second year of the state of emergency, entitled “Ongoing Crisis; The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” on Thursday  the 23th of February 2023 at 12:00 pm at Lawyers for Justice – Al Bireh – Al Balou’ – behind Bun Zheiman.

Qalqilya Magistrate Court decides to release university student Abdullah Obaid

Today, “Lawyers for Justice” group obtained a decision from Qalqilya Magistrate’s Court to release the political detainee and university student, Abdullah Obaid, after his family submitted the prescribed guarantee of 100 Jordanian dinars as a cash bail, and 3000 Jordanian dinars as a personal guarantee. It is noteworthy that Obaid was arrested on January 30, 2023, and he was arrested in front of An-Najah University, where he is studying, by the Preventive Security Service, by officers driving a civilian car. Obaid’s arrest came against the backdrop of political and partisan pluralism, in addition to his student union work at the university. Accordingly; “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the arrest of students and interrogation with them about their student union work within their universities, which is guaranteed by the international agreements and treaties to which the Palestinian Authority has committed itself, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and what is stated in the text of Article (22/2) thereof, which states “No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on members of the armed forces and of the police in their exercise of this right.”  In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what is stated in Article (23/4)  thereof, which states that “Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests” The group emphasizes the need to provide a safe environment within universities so that students can enjoy the freedom of student union work. … February 12, 2023 Lawyers for Justice

Ramallah Magistrate Court extends the detention of the political detainee Yaman Ba’irat.

Thursday, February 9, 2023, Ramallah Magistrate Court extended the detention of the political detainee Yaman Ba’irat for a period of 15 days, under the pretext of giving the Public Prosecution the opportunity to complete the investigation procedures. Ba’irat was charged with a charge usually used to justify the arrest of political detainees, It is worth noting that he was arrested on February 8, 2023 by the Preventive Security. … February 11, 2023 Lawyers for Justice

Postponement of the trial of the activists accused by the Palestinian Telecommunications Company to the date of April 30, 2023

Yesterday, February 8, 2023, the thirteenth hearing was held in the Ramallah Magistrate Court in the case of the three activists Jihad Abdo, Ezz El-Din Zaoul, and Musa Al-Qaisiyah. This case was filed against them after a complaint filed by the Palestinian Telecommunications Company, the subject of which was defamation by using the electronic network or a means of information technology, and the threat through the use of the electronic network or a means of information technology. The company is demanding the three activists for compensation of 10 million Jordanian dinars, in exchange for the damages that the company claims they caused. Accordingly, the “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns such prosecutions due to the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, which is protected by 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 his opinion and publish it verbally, in writing, or otherwise, means of expression or art, taking into account the provisions of the law.” … 9, February 2023 Lawyers for Justice

Proceedings of the trial of the accused in killing the activist Nizar Banat

Yesterday, January 29, 2023, a trial session was held at the special military court in Ramallah for the 14 members of the preventive security, accused of killing the martyr Nizar Banat, the session was held in the presence of the entire ruling body, and in the presence of the fourteen accused who were previously released, their attorney, and a representative of the military prosecution. “Lawyers for Justice” group followed the session as an observer of the trial sessions of the accused in the case of the murder of activist Nizar Banat, and some colleagues and representatives of local and international human rights institutions. Within the framework of the litigation procedures; The defense attorney presented his defense evidence, represented by an expert, who is a forensic doctor, head of the forensic medicine department in a hospital in Jordan, doctor (A.A.); Who submitted his report to the court, then he was discussed about this report by the defense attorney, the representative of the military prosecution, and by the court; he summarized in his report, “The cause of death of the deceased is due to heart and respiratory failure.” He added, “The cause of death is the health condition that the deceased was suffering from.” He commented on the forensic report, “What they found of the death result is not correct”  The doctor (A.A) confirmed that his basis in constructing his report relied on the forensic medical report, the medical file of Nizar before his martyrdom, in addition to some papers and files that he received from the court. In its role, the Military Prosecution objected to showing the medical report prepared by the expert, expressing that it is a structural and office report, and it did not rely on examination, and autopsy, and that the approved reports must be issued by the competent authorities, but the court added the report to the case file. The observer of the “Lawyers for Justice” group made some observations during the session, which was initially represented by the expert detouring by answering some questions of the court and the prosecution, and answering them in general terms, the defense attorney intervened by adding some words or phrases to the expert’s answers, the presence of some terms in the report of the expert, who confirmed verbally that they are either wrong or not found in the medical dictionary, such as the term traumatic shock, The session was adjourned for 10 minutes, then he returned and said after the adjournment of the session, “The term traumatic shock exists only in the head and not in the rest of the body, and it does not apply to Nizar’s case, but rather what applies to Nizar’s case in the head is bruises” the defense attorney interrupted the court and the prosecution. It is noteworthy that the session was adjourned to February 26, 2023, and was postponed to allow the defense attorney to decide whether he wishes to provide additional evidence or not. It is worth mentioning that today’s session started at 10:00 and ended at 1:45. … January 30, 2023 Lawyers for Justice  

The public prosecution in Ramallah has extended the detention of the political detainee and released prisoner, Ahed Khaddour, for 48 hours.

Since yesterday, “Lawyers for Justice” group has followed up the arrest of the political detainee, Ahed Khaddour, after the preventive security summoned him to meet them, then detained him and brought him this morning before the public prosecution. The Public Prosecution accused Khaddour of political charges, then extended his detention for 48 hours under the pretext of completing the investigation procedures. Accordingly; “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns these political arrests of released prisoners and former political detainees like Khaddour, and calls on the public prosecution to immediately release him. … Lawyers for Justice January 24, 2023

The public prosecution in Ramallah extended the detention of political detainee Ibrahim Al-Saba’ for 48 hours.

Today, the public prosecution in Ramallah extended the detention of the political detainee, Ibrahim Al-Saba’, for a period of 48 hours, under the pretext of completing the investigation procedures. It is noteworthy that Al-Saba’ has been detained since yesterday evening by the Preventive Security, and that this political arrest is not the first of its kind by the Palestinian security agencies. “Lawyers for Justice” group has followed up more than one previous political arrest of Al-Saba’, the last of which was last October. … Lawyers for Justice January 23, 2023

“Lawyers for Justice” group is following with great concern the flagrant violations of the human rights situation in the case of political detainee Basil Flayan.

“Lawyers for Justice” group is following up with great concern the flagrant violations in the case of the political, administrative detainee, Basil Flayan. Despite obtaining two release decisions from the Ramallah magistrate court, these decisions were as if they were not with the general intelligence. But the general intelligence refuses to abide by the court’s decisions to release him. Back on December 13, 2022, the general intelligence arrested Flayan as part of a wide campaign of political arrests launched by the Palestinian security services, and kept him in administrative detention, without going through the necessary legal procedures until December 22, 2022, when they referred his case to the Public Prosecution, which charged him with political charges, Until “Lawyers for Justice” group obtained a release decision in favor of Flayan from the Ramallah magistrate court; However, the general intelligence refused to release him, and on January 8, 2023, the general intelligence referred a new case to the Public Prosecution, which they had attached to him, and again, the Public Prosecution charged him with a new charge of a political nature, Until January 17, 2023, when he obtained a release decision after the group and his family completed the guarantee procedures, but again, the general intelligence is intransigent and refuses to implement the court’s decision to release Flayan, and keeps him in administrative detention without charging him with any charge, or presenting him to a court or public procuratorate , or be released. Accordingly, “Lawyers for Justice” group holds the general intelligence responsible for the life of detainee Flayan, especially after the allegations of torture he raised before the extension judge, and that the continued illegal and administrative detention of detainee Flayan may be evidence of his continued torture. Hence, we consider this statement as a communication to the Attorney General to report an illegally detained person as stated in the text of Article (128) of the Code of Criminal Procedures, and accordingly we ask the Attorney General to open an investigation into the illegal arrest of the detainee, And then take all the necessary legal measures represented in the immediate release of Flyan. … Lawyers for Justice January 23, 2023

An urgent appeal for the release of political detainee Basil Flayan

Update: Despite the obtainment of two decisions to release the political detainee and released prisoner, Basil Flayan, and his previous detention before being referred to court for a period of nine days illegally, and the allegations of torture he raised, the General Intelligence is intransigent and refuses to abide by court decisions to release Flayan. Accordingly, “Lawyers for Justice” group regrets the continuous decline in the level of the human rights situation in the West Bank, and the exclusiveness of the executive authority in issuing decisions and implementing them as it pleases. And considering this brief statement as an urgent appeal to all human rights institutions, local and international, to press for the immediate release of the detainee Flayan, and all those detained illegally and arbitrarily. … Lawyers for Justice January 17, 2023

“Lawyers for Justice” group obtains a decision to release the political detainee, and released prisoner, Basil Flayan.

Today, “Lawyers for Justice” group obtained a decision to release the political prisoner, Basil Flayan, by Ramallah’s first instance court in its appeal capacity, in return for providing a personal guarantee to the court of 500 Jordanian dinars; After the group appealed the Ramallah magistrate court’s decision to reject the release request. It is noteworthy that Flayan was arrested by the general intelligence  on December 13, 2022 as part of a wide campaign of political arrests launched by the Palestinian  security agencies, and the general intelligence  kept him administratively detained without going through legal procedures until December 22, 2022. Then they referred his case to the public prosecution office, which charged him with political charges, until he obtained a release decision from the Ramallah magistrate court. However, the general intelligence refused to release him, and on January 8, 2023 they referred a new case to the public prosecution that they had attached to him, and again, the public prosecution charged him with a new political charge, until the date of the release decision that the group obtained today. It is noteworthy that the detainee Flayan had mentioned before the Ramallah Magistrate Court allegations of torture and ill-treatment, which they torture with special techniques called ( Shabeh) which means hanging human being into the ceiling from their hands and whipping them with plastic tubes.   … Lawyers for Justice January 17, 2023