The General Intelligence releases a witness to martyr Nizar Banat assassination.
Today, March 5, 2023, the Public Prosecution issued a decision to release the political activist, the cousin of the martyr Nizar Banat, and one of the witnesses to his assassination, Ammar Banat. Forces from the General Intelligence arrested the political activist, Ammar Banat, from his workplace in Hebron, Thursday, March 2, 2023. This is not the first time he has been arrested, but his arrest has been repeated since the assassination of the martyr Nizar Banat to pressure him not to testify before the Special Military Court at first, and to express his opinion in the case of the assassination of Nizar Banat and other public issues. … Lawyers for Justice March 5, 2023
The Ramallah Magistrate Court extends the arrest of the journalist and student, Moath Washaha
Ramallah Magistrate Court extended the arrest of journalist Moath Washaha on March 2, 2023, for a period of 7 days. The General Intelligence Service in Ramallah arrested journalist Washaha after he responded to a summons at the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The “Lawyers for Justice” group indicates that the arrest of student and journalist Washa comes within the framework of fighting the freedom of journalistic work, and that the malicious accusations against him aim to legitimize the false arrest. #Ongoing_Crisis … Lawyers for Justice March 5, 2023
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the continued campaign of arrests by the security agencies against citizens and political activist
#statement #Suppression_of_freedoms The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the continued campaign of arrests by the security agencies against citizens and political activists, which has increased since the beginning of this year. The group indicates that, since the beginning of the year, it has monitored the arrest and summons of tens of citizens as part of the policy of suppressing freedoms, which has taken a dangerous turn since the summer of 2021, following the assassination of the political activist, Nizar Banat. The group notes that the policy of suppressing freedoms clearly extends to public rights and freedoms, including freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of political affiliation, which are constitutional rights that must be respected and preserved. In this context, the group condemns what the security forces have done since the day before yesterday by suppressing the press conference that was supposed to be hosted by the Watan Agency, and preventing it from taking place. In addition to the arrest of student and journalist Moath Washaha by the Palestinian General Intelligence in Ramallah. The group also condemns the arrest of political activist Ammar Banat yesterday by the security agencies who do not wear military uniforms, without presenting an arrest warrant that would allow them to arrest Banat. Due to the inability of lawyers to represent citizens arbitrarily detained outside the scope of the law before the Public Prosecution and the courts due to the strike of the Bar Association, the group refers to the “use of the right of silence” that allows every detainee not to answer any questions during interrogation before the Public Prosecution The group also confirms the illegality of any interrogation or investigation carried out by the security agencies, as it is a non-competent body and has no authority to investigate or arrest without an official arrest warrant. Accordingly, the group calls for the immediate release of all detainees in all cities, respect for judicial rulings, and an end to the policy of suppressing freedoms. Lawyers for Justice March, 3 2023
“Ongoing Crisis” The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank/ The summary
The “Lawyers for Justice” group Annual Report 2021-2022 “Ongoing Crisis” The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank The summary The year 2021 marked a qualitative difference in the human rights situation in the West Bank; the pace of violations escalated dramatically, especially after the assassination of the political critic “Nizar Banat” by forces from the security agencies, the techniques used by the security agencies to suppress public rights and freedoms varied, reaching the highest levels of repression. Lawyers for Justice followed up the deterioration of public rights and freedoms in the West Bank during the year, and the harassment, assault and repression that citizens were subjected to due to their practices of those rights. Accordingly; This report deals with civil and political rights in international conventions compared to Palestinian national legislation, these include the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, the right to life, the right to physical and psychological integrity, the right to participate in political life, and the right to litigation and fair trial guarantees, it also reviews the reality of exercising those rights in the occupied West Bank. The group monitored and documented all the cases it followed, in addition to the cases that had a great resonance and impact on the Palestinian street, including the trial sessions of the late “Banat” in the annual report for the second year since the declaration of the state of emergency, which covers the period from (March 2021) to (March 2022), where the number of cases of political arrests increased significantly, and all peaceful demonstrations and assemblies were suppressed, and the method of threats and extortion was used against demonstrators, both males and females, the report also dealt with the harassment and distortion that the group was subjected to, with the aim of hindering its work in protecting human rights, the report also highlighted the continuous targeting of activists and human rights defenders, whether in arrests or summonses by the security agencies.
Repeated accusations against detainees (March 2021 – March 2022)
Most of the interrogated persons were charged with “weapon possession”, and “raising/ collecting fund for illegal organizations”; in order to extend their detention before the court. There were 13 university students among the arrested persons and 5 journalists were arrested due to their activism and work in journalism You can view the electronic copy of the annual report (March 2021-March 2022), entitled ” Ongoing Crisis: The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” through the following link: https://lawyers4justice.ps/ongoing-crisis-the-systematic-nature-of-the-suppression-of-freedoms-in-the-west-bank/ #Ongoing_Crisis
Arrests due to practicing right to peaceful assembly (March 2021- March 2022)
The Group had followed up 63 cases arrested due to practicing their right to peaceful assembly (35.1% of the arrested cases during the given period) You can view the electronic copy of the annual report (March 2021-March 2022), entitled ” Ongoing Crisis: The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” through the following link: https://lawyers4justice.ps/ongoing-crisis-the-systematic…/ #Ongoing_Crisis
179 arrests from March 2021 – March 2022
During the second year of declaring the State of emergency (till 31/3/2022) “Lawyers for Justice Group” – will be referred to as the “Group” in the current report, due to its various members – had followed up approximately 179 detentions; Through human rights follow-up and legal representation. Additionally, the Group had documented other violations other than detention cases. #Ongoing_Crisis
Three hearings were held today at the Ramallah Magistrate’s Court for five human rights defenders, following the incidents that followed the assassination of the martyr Nizar Banat.
Today, February 19, 2023, the Ramallah Magistrate Court held three trial sessions for five political activists and human rights defenders, who had previously been arrested on the basis of their participation in demonstrations condemning the assassination of martyr Nizar Banat and/or expressing their opinions about the assassination of martyr Nizar Banat, they are Salem Abdel-Rahman (Al-Qatsh), Jihad Abdo, Ezz El-Din Zaoul, Fakhri Jaradat, and Osama Jaradat. Fakhri Jaradat is being prosecuted in two separate files, one of as a single defendant, and the other with his son, Osama. Although Qatash was arrested by the occupation authorities nearly a year ago, he is still being prosecuted on the aforementioned basis. Although their trial started two years ago, their sessions are still postponed due to the absence of witnesses of the Public Prosecution who are members and officers of the Palestinian police, and by their absence, their files lack of guarantees to a fair trial that must be available. For all of this, domestic law and international agreements and treaties guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to participate in peaceful assemblies. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulated in article (19) thereof that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” And stipulated in Article (20/1) “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” Therefore, the prosecution of political activists and human rights defenders, based on their exercise of their freedom to express their opinions, or their participation in peaceful assemblies, is a violation of the local laws that guarantee these rights, in addition to the treaties and agreements to which the Palestinian Authority has committed itself. … Lawyers for Justice February 19, 2023
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
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