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.
Due to the absence of witnesses.. 9 trial sessions for activists were postponed and a case file was closed
Ramallah Magistrate Court postponed nine trial sessions of activists and human rights defenders, until January 19, 2022, due to the non-attendance of witnesses and their absence from the sessions. Representatives of the Public Prosecution Office requested a time limit to confirm their positions on the evidence.In light of the continued absence of witnesses, as the representative of the defense, the advocate of the Lawyers for Justice group petitioned the court to compel the prosecution to bring the witnesses themselves.Although the Public Prosecution Office has previously completed all aspects of the investigation file, the group observed a delay in the court’s procedure. By accepting the request of the representative of the Public Prosecution to grant him additional time, and that the postponement of the hearing serves nothing but delay the achievement of justice.Meanwhile, after four court sessions, the court closed the case file against activist Ghassan Al-Saadi on charges of “Defamation using the electronic network or any information technology means.”, due to the failure of the Minister of Social Development, Ahmed Majdalani in submitting his civil right to accept this case.Here, a group of Lawyers for Justice points out that it raised in its defenses the failure of Al-Majdalani to claim civil rights since the first session of the case on July 6, 2021. But the court rejected the arguments and insisted that the activist’s trial continues till today.Accordingly, the group stresses that the continued procrastination of the activists’ court proceedings does not fall within the standards of a fair trial.Furthermore, Lawyers for Justice recalls that activists are prosecuted for their human rights activism and advocacy without committing any violation of Palestinian law and that their activities came within the framework of human rights agreements and the Palestinian Basic Law, which guarantees their right to expression and peaceful demonstration.
An invitation to attend trials of 35 human rights defenders and activists
Lawyers for Justice group invites all media organizations, civil society, local and international human rights institutions to attend ten public trial sessions of 35 human rights activists and defenders against participating in the “Enough is enough” movement in 2020. And on participating in the demonstrations condemning the assassination of activist Nizar Banat in June 2021. The group confirms that attending and monitoring these public hearings contributes to fair trial standards. Activists are being prosecuted for their participation in legal activities guaranteed by Palestinian law, freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law, and human rights treaties to which Palestine is a party. Their cases were listed under different charges, as follows: Stirring up racist strife, continuing to gather and not disperse except by force, Participating in an illegal gathering, breaching the state of emergency, and stirring up sectarian strife, defamation using the electronic network or any information technology means”. The sessions were postponed several times due to the absence of witnesses in the security services. Also, one of the sessions was postponed due to the absence of the witness, Ahmed Majdalani, Minister of Social Development. This continued absence of witnesses, whether intentionally or because they were not informed, led to the delay in the trial, in violation of fair trial guarantees, as is the case with the “Enough” movement activists who have been on trial for more than a year. Accordingly, as the Lawyers for Justice group pleads as an attorney for the defense of activists and human rights, it calls on civil and human rights institutions and the media to attend on Sunday 19/12/2021 at the Ramallah Magistrate Court, where the sessions begin at nine in the morning.
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.
The arrest of the human rights activist and defender, Jasser Jaser
Lawyers for Justice have followed this day, 5/31/2020 The arrest of the human rights activist and defender, Jasser Jaser. who was arrested against the background of what he was published on the Facebook page, “Bekfi ya shrikat alitisalat”-This is enough Communications companies- which is a page of social mobility .The Public Prosecutor accuses the activist Jasser of “transmitting insulting news using communication devices” in violation of the “controversial” cybercrimes law.Accordingly, lawyers for justice believe that his continued detention for the second consecutive day, on the background of his publications, which is demanding accountability for corruption and corrupt people, is only a trial of the conscience of honorable people with the aim of blocking any social union activity aimed at correcting social and economic policies to achieve the desired social justice.Based on the foregoing, Lawyers for Justice have demanded that the relevant authorities issue a decision to stop the prosecution and detention of trade unionists and human rights defenders. emphasize the need of closing all the judicial files that impede any trade union activity and/ or restrict freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed under the domestic and international laws.
The General Intelligence prevents to publish a book for a prisoner
The General Intelligence Service has banned the publication of the prisoner’s book “The Path of the Truthful” in the Israeli jails, Mohammed Subhi Abu Tabikh. One of the printing presses in Beitunia refused to publish the book in Palestinian libraries after the families of the prisoners went to it under the pretext, and there was a decision by the General Intelligence in Ramallah to prevent the publication and the distribution. Lawyers for Justice had applied to the Attorney General to allow the publication of the book as partly affecting the right to culture and education. Whereas, banning the publication of the book violates the principles protected by Palestine, by preserving the cultural situation of Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli jails. Abu Tabikh has spent more than 15 years in Israeli jails and is sentenced to life in prison. The prisoner Mohammad Abu Tabikh, had contacted lawyers for justice in order to help him legally to publish the book, which was banned by the General Intelligence Service, and lawyers for justice volunteered to provide any agency to him in the future.
Lara Kanan
Ms. Lara Kanan is a 33 year old Palestinian journalist who works as the Nablus Representative for Altra News. She also works for the Mada Center for Developments and Media Freedoms. She is a member of the Journalist Union of Palestine. She has no political affiliations. The June 30, 2018 protest against the blockade of Gaza was organized by factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the Martyr’s Square in the center of Nablus. Ms. Kanan believes she was targeted by these individuals because she is a member of the media. Before taking part in the assault, one of these four individuals asked Ms. Kanan to stop filming the protest. When she refused to stop filming, he was joined by three other men and they all attacked her, including by pulling her hair, hitting her arm, and dragging her backwards. After the assault, they were able to flee, despite the presence of security personnel in the area. On July 2, 2018, Ms. Kanan filed a criminal complaint against these four individuals with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Nablus Court of Reconciliation. While she did not name the individuals specifically in the complaint, she is aware of two of their identities and is willing to come forward with their names. On July 3, 2018, Ms. Kanan went to Rafidia Surgical Hospital in Nablus. She had pain in her left upper extremity, neck, and back and the physician observed that she had cyanosis and gave her medical attention.