Lawyers for Justice

Lawyers for justice group documented a political detention in connection to the local elections

The Lawyers for justice group monitored human rights violations against the activist (M.S) from a village in Ramallah during his arrest due to his participation in the local elections that took place in December 2021. According to M.S, he was interrogated in Ramallah court for “possessing a weapon” during his 13 years detention. Most of the investigation dealt with the participation of one of his relatives in the winning list in the village and ” the role of the activist in forming and mobilizing the list”, in addition to the investigation about the activist’s participation in the “Great Down” youth campaign. The group documented that M.S was beaten on the head during his transfer from Ramallah prison to Jericho prison after seven days of his arrest. On the other hand, he went on a hunger strike for the first eight days in protest against his political arrest. In Jericho prison, he was interrogated almost daily, and the intelligence service prevented his family and the advocate of Lawyers for justice group from visiting him during his detention. Accordingly, the group condemns the beating of the activist”M.S” during his arrest which violates human rights and puts his health and safety at risk. The group also condemns the arrest of the activist due to his participation in the local elections, in contravention of presidential decree No 5 about the promotion of public liberties, especially the freedom of electoral participation without harassment or restrictions. Lawyers for justice group calls on local and international human rights institutions to pay attention to what political detainees are subjected to from torture and violations inside the prisons of the security services against the background of opinion, expression and political participation.

Lawyers for justice condemns the re-arrest of the activist Muhammad Hussein

The Lawyers for justice group condemns the re-arrest of the activist Muhammad Ammar Hussein by the intelligence services immediately after his release from Nablus prison. On January 3, 2022, the Nablus Magistrate court issued a verdict to release him on bail of 2000 Jordanian dinars, after 12 days of his political detention. The group reiterates its condemnation of the re-arrest of the activist and stresses that his re-arrest comes as a part of a series of serious violations by the security services against the Palestinian judiciary. Moreover, it trespasses the judicial decisions in violation of the Palestinian Basic Law and human rights conventions. The group also calls for the immediate release of the detainee Muhammad Ammar Hussein, and suit the violators.

More than 340 political arrests in 2021

The Palestinians welcomed 2021 with Presidential Decree No(5) to enhance public freedomsو and ensure political affiliation and action without persecution or restrictions. And legal criminalizing political detention confirming the provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law. And what the Palestinian Authority signed when it joined international agreements on human rights and freedom of opinion and expression. Despite the support and protection of freedoms that the Palestinian government emphasized since the beginning of this year to stop prosecuting any journalist or activist based on his work or political activity, 2021 recorded an escalation in human rights violations. The Lawyers for justice group monitored more than 340 arrests cases, including activists, academics, university students, journalists, and human rights defenders. As the world is welcoming the new year, 45 detainees are absent from their families; they are languishing in the prisons of the security services due to their political and student activity and their right to opinion and expression. The group documented more than 67 cases of political arrests during December in several governorates. Nablus (22 arrests) and Hebron (21) topped the list as the governorates that recorded the most cases of political arrests. Then comes Jenin Governorate (18 arrests), Ramallah and Al-Bireh (10 arrests), and Bethlehem (7 arrests). It also recorded many cases in Tubas, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Salfit governorates. The rate of arrests based on opinion and political affiliation increased after the postponement of the legislative elections on April 29, and the events in the Palestinian territories in May, and the assassination of opposition activist Nizar Banat on June 24 this year, and the subsequent demonstrations condemning the assassination. Moreover, in a previous report, the Lawyers for Justice group revealed that they monitored more than 200 cases of political and opinion-based arrests in the period between May \ November. Lawyers for Justice bids farewell to the year 2021, as it turns into one of the most brutal years of repression of freedoms and the rights of opinion and expression. And it is anxiously awaiting the new year, hoping to preserve and maintain the Palestinians rights of political affiliation and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and the international human rights agreements to which Palestine is a party.

Lawyers for Justice: The arrest of activist Moussa Nazzal, under the custody of the governor, is against the law

In cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Office, the Lawyers for Justice group was able to locate the place of detention of activist Musa Nazzal “Al-Sawy” in Qalqilya, where he is detained under the custody of the governor of Qalqilya.The General Intelligence Service, where he is held, has prevented the family of the detainee “Al-Sawy” from visiting him, which is a cause for concern about the conditions of his detention and his health condition.Since 7/12/2021, General Intelligence arrested “Al-Sawy” without an arrest warrant. The Lawyers for Justice group did not find any file for his case with the Public Prosecution, which means that the arrest was carried out arbitrarily and illegally.The detention under the governor’s custody violates the Palestinian Penal Procedures Law No. (3) of 2001, where Article 29 of it states that: “No one may be arrested or imprisoned except by an order from the legally competent authority”. In this case, the competent authority according to the law is the Civil Public Prosecution, as it is a competent authority in establishing and conducting criminal proceedings.Moreover, detained him for seven consecutive days without a trial violates the Palestinian Basic Law, which states in Article (12): “Anyone who is arrested or detained shall be informed of the reasons for his arrest and detention. And shall be informed promptly in a language he understands of the accusation against him, be able to contact a lawyer and be brought to trial without delay.”Today, the group appealed to the Public Prosecutor for his immediate release in light of his illegal arrest procedures.The Lawyers for Justice group affirms that they will follow up on the “Al-Sawy” case, in addition to following up on political detainees, until their freedom is guaranteed, their release, and the emptying of all political prisons.

Lawyers for Justice documents a violation against the human rights of a political prisoner

Lawyers for Justice group documented grave human rights violations that activist “N.ِA” was subjected to during his arrest during the twenty days of his political detention.Although the court issued a decision to release him, it was not implemented, and his detention continued in a narrow and unclean cell without the minimum necessities of life. Moreover, he was exposed to verbal abuse, hanging, and sleep deprivation. The interrogators also tried to wage a psychological war on him by using phrases suggesting that they did not intend to release him.They prevented his family and lawyer from visiting him, and he was interrogated almost daily without any legal basis. And without respecting the detainee and dealing with him following human rights agreements to which Palestine is a party.Therefore, the group of Lawyers for Justice calls for an immediate investigation into the conditions of political prisons and the urgent release of all political detainees and ensures their protection and safety. It also appeals to the Attorney General to urgently enforce the law about the implementation of the release decisions issued by the Palestinian judiciary.

Lawyers for Justice demands revealing the fate of political detainee Musa Nazzal

Today, Monday, December 13, 2021, a group of Lawyers for Justice went to the headquarters of the General Intelligence in the city of Qalqilya to proceed with the authorization procedures for the political detainee, Musa Nazzal Al-Sawy. The intelligence informed the group that the Security Committee apprehended the detainee and refused to complete the attorney procedures or allow a visit on the pretext that it “needs approval from the Security Committee”; to do that, the group has to go to National Security Command where the detainee is, as they said.Subsequently, the group headed to the National Security to inquire about the detainee, but the national security denied having him. They even indicated that the general intelligence detained him. This prompted the group to go to the Public Prosecution and inquire about the file of Musa Nazzal. They were surprised that there is no file for his case with the Public Prosecution Office, and he is being held for the seventh consecutive day arbitrarily and illegally.Within this framework, several human rights organizations intervened to find out where “Al-Sawy” is detained, but we have not received any response until now.Therefore, Lawyers for Justice confirms that they will take all necessary legal measures to reveal the fate of Musa Nazzal and his place of detention. They also stress that Nazzal is detained in violation of fair trial guarantees.The group launches an urgent appeal to the Attorney General for immediate intervention to reveal his fate, ensure his safety, and release him immediately.

More than 200 arrests and detentions since May 2021

The escalation of arrest campaigns carried out by the security services in the occupied West Bank governorates since the beginning of last October reflects the deterioration of the human rights situation in Palestine. The group has documented dozens of arrests of citizens and activists on various backgrounds because of their political affiliation or the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression.While the number of detainees, between those arrested or released since mid-May last, has so far exceeded nearly two hundred arrests;these numbers are the worst in years in the human rights record in the Palestinian Authority security-controlled areas. The group’s documentation indicates that most of these arrests were without presenting an arrest or search warrant issued by the competent authorities represented by the Public Prosecution Authority. Once these arrests are carried out, the procedures for legalizing them will begin with competent prosecutions. This is to provide more space that allows the investigative authorities of the security services to take over the powers of the Public Prosecution Office. And to prolong detention periods which have often become a tool of punishment in the hands of the security services against political and opinion activists.The group also observed unjustified violent behavior often practiced against activists during arrest, along with force and miss-treatment.Lawyers for Justice warns against the continuation of these illegal campaigns and stresses that the Public Prosecution office must take a strict stance towards these behaviors that gives a discourse that justifies these grave violations of the human rights situation, it also calls for the immediate release of all detainees and the closure of political detention prisons.

Arqam

Lawyers for Justice got a decision to acquit the detainee Arqam Harsha from the Magistrate’s Court in Tulkarm, and the Preventive Security Service refuses to release him. Today, February 24, 2020, a session was held to try Arqam Harsha’s detainee in the Magistrate’s Court in Tulkarm, where the Public Prosecution transferred the investigation file to the court and the indictment was read out. In the same session, the court issued its decision to announce that Arqam Harsha after he denied the charges in the presence of Attorney Ahmed Barham is a representative of lawyers for justice The Preventive Security Service in Tulkarm had arrested the youth activist Arqam Harasha from the town of Qaffin due to his participation in the demonstrations, according to what his father said (that Arqam was    went out in a peaceful demonstration to participate in the funeral of the martyr Badr Harashi in Tulkarm, on the date of 9 / 2/2020 A number has been reported by the Preventive Security for the interview, and he was detained by the Preventive Security in Tulkarm, from the date of his detention until the date of 14/20/2020 was arrested illegally as he was not transferred to the court) Lawyers for Justice considered what came on The detainee’s father’s tongue is a digit that has violated the Palestinian criminal procedure law and that his arrest is in violation of Fair trial . The Preventive Security Service in Tulkarm refuses to release the detainee Harsha’s number despite a decision to declare his innocence and to release him unconditionally, as a member of his family stated that the Preventive Security Service informed him that he did not intend to release him today. Lawyers for Justice considers that the declaration of innocence of Harsha or other political detainees from the insatiable apprehension assigned to them, or the preservation of their files by a decision of the Attorney General is evidence that their arrest was merely arbitrary detention due to political activity and / or union action and / or Freedom of opinion and expression, and there is no evidence linking them to the charges assigned to them. In addition, these charges against them are merely charges that the public prosecutor used to direct the above-mentioned detainees. Lawyers for Justice launches an urgent appeal for the immediate release of the activist detainee Harasha’s without restriction or commitment, in compliance with the judicial decision issued by the Magistrates Court in Tulkarm. Thus, lawyers for justice claim the kindness of the Attorney General and human rights institutions to intervene immediately to release the detainee Arqam Harsha

Mohammed Nasir

Mohammed Jamal Nasir, a student in berzeit university and a trade union activist, He was arrested by the Palestinian General Intelligence from Ramallah on Tuesday 22/10/2019, Mohammed Nasser is a former prisoner and was arrested in the General Intelligence in 2014. The lawyer Mohanad Karajah confirmed that his arrest was extended by the Public Prosecution inside the Intelligence Service on Wednesday 23/10/2019 for 24 hours He was interrogated by the Public Prosecution on Thursday 24/10/2019 on charges of collecting and receiving illegal funds. Mohanad Karajah stated that during the interrogation Nasir was tortured for long hours, Mohanad also noticed that Nasir was not able to move his fingers so he asked the public prosecution to transfer him to medical services, on the same day, the Public Prosecution requested the Ramallah Magistrate Court to extend his detention for 15 days until the investigation, the Magistrate Court approved the request, and extended the investigation period for 15 days, and present him to a forensic doctor. While Mohanad Karajah stated that during his escort he asked the magistrate to see him, and the court noticed that there were marks on Mohammed’s hands as a result of torture at the intelligence service. Lawyers for justice prevent the political detention and human and human rights defenders, which the General Intelligence Service got used to arrest the human rights activists on these charges and the continued detention will adversely affect detainee educational career. Lawyers for justice calling Berzeit University to take action and to stand with Nasir in order to release him and attend his classes, also to consider this act as a complaint to the Attorney General to open an immediate investigation into the torture.

Mohammed Abu-Hasan

Mohammed Nathmi Mohmoud Abu-Hasan, a journalist arrested by the Preventive Security in Tubas, from his workplace where Mahmoud works as a public relations manager in an electricity company in Tubas. Abu-Hasan was presented to the Public Prosecution on 14/10/2019, the second day on 15/10/2019 his detention was extended for 15 days for possession of a weapon without a license, and then he was transferred from the Preventive Security headquarters in Tubas to the Preventive Security headquarters in Ramallah 17/10/2019, then transferred to the Public Prosecution on 22/10/2019 on charges of collecting and receiving funds, all the investigations were in the presence of lawyer Muhannad Karajeh, and the interrogation was about his work and journalism in one of a Palestinian newspaper, His detention was extended for another 48 hours on 24/10/2019, and then brought to Ramallah Magistrate Court, then his detention was extended for 15 days without taking his activity, journalistic work, family circumstances seriously, and the fact he’s a human rights defender.