Press Release
Lawyers for Justice, in cooperation with Human Rights Watch, launched its annual report for the year 2025 titled: “Complaints in the Public Prosecution’s Drawers – A Year of Waiting Without Redress.” The launch took place in the presence of representatives from diplomatic missions, international and local human rights organizations, activists, human rights defenders, as well as a number of individuals interested in legal and human rights affairs, and victims’ families. The meeting included a speech by Human Rights Watch regarding the importance of cooperation with Palestinian human rights organizations, and supporting efforts aimed at enhancing the protection of human rights, following up on violation cases, and achieving access to justice. Lawyers for Justice also presented the key findings of the report and opened the floor for victims and their families, lawyers, activists, and representatives of institutions and diplomatic missions to participate in the discussion and provide comments and recommendations on ways to strengthen mechanisms for handling human rights-related complaints. The group emphasized that this report comes as part of its legal and human rights work aimed at supporting efforts to achieve access to justice and ensuring that victims have access to legal remedies, and is not a substitute for the role or jurisdiction of official institutions. In this context, Lawyers for Justice stresses the important role played by the Public Prosecution in following up on human rights-related complaints, promoting the rule of law, and guaranteeing individuals’ right to access justice and effective redress, in line with national legislation and relevant legal obligations. The group hopes that the discussion sparked by the report will contribute to fostering dialogue and cooperation between justice institutions, human rights organizations, and civil society. This, in turn, would support the development of mechanisms for receiving and following up on complaints, and help address any challenges victims face in accessing their rights, ultimately leading to a justice system that is more effective and responsive to citizens’ needs. Lawyers for Justice affirms its continued commitment to working and cooperating with various relevant parties and institutions, in a professional and constructive spirit, to enhance human rights protection, support the rule of law, and advance access to justice. Lawyers for justice
Continued Trial of Peaceful Activists Participating in Demonstrations Condemning the Assassination of Human Rights Activist Nizar Banat
The Lawyers for Justice group follows with grave concern the ongoing prosecution of several peaceful activists over their participation in peaceful demonstrations that broke out to condemn the assassination of human rights activist Nizar Banat. This comes five years after the crime took place, during which time justice has not been achieved for the victim, his family, or Palestinian society. The Magistrate’s Court of Ramallah held a session on the case yesterday, but decided to adjourn it due to the absence of prosecution witnesses and some of the activists. This failure to appear contributes to the prolongation of the trial and the continuous harassment of peaceful activists. The activists Hamza Zubeidat, Maher Al-Akhras, Salem Abdel Rahman, Basel Hamdeh, Amir Salameh, Kawthar Abdel Rahman, Duha Al-Madi, and Mousa Abu Sharar face charges including “inciting sectarian strife,” “unlawful assembly,” and “defamation of a public authority.” These are charges frequently leveled by the Public Prosecution in cases tied to the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly, effectively criminalizing the lawful acts of human rights defenders and peaceful activists. The continuation of these trials, five years after the assassination of Nizar Banat, serves as a troubling indicator of the absence of justice. Those who demanded truth and accountability continue to be prosecuted, while Nizar Banat’s family and Palestinian society await genuine redress and the holding accountable of all individuals responsible for this crime, ensuring there is no impunity. The Lawyers for Justice group reaffirms that the right to peaceful demonstration and freedom of opinion and expression are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Palestinian Amended Basic Law and international human rights treaties to which the State of Palestine has acceded. Criminal provisions must not be utilized to restrict these rights or to prosecute those who exercise them peacefully. The group emphasizes that the ongoing leveling of these charges against human rights defenders and peaceful demonstrators undermines the constitutional guarantees related to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, sending a negative message to anyone who demands justice and accountability. Accordingly, the Lawyers for Justice group calls for: End of text. July 14, 2026 Lawyers for Justice Group
Statement Issued by Lawyers for Justice Group
Lawyers for Justice Group highly commends the judgment rendered by the Court of First Instance of Nablus, acting in its appellate capacity, in the Misdemeanor Appeal Case No. 42/2026, which ruled to accept the appeal in substance and acquitted the activists Huda Hussein Rashid Al-Bishr and Fatima Hussein Rashid Al-Bishr of the charges imputed to them. This ruling overturns their prior conviction by the Salfit Conciliation Court in Criminal Case No. 1295/2025, which had sentenced each of them to one month of imprisonment. The Group considers the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal to be a victory for the freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the right to peaceful assembly guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights conventions acceded to by the State of Palestine. It reaffirms that participation in peaceful events and protests must neither be criminalized nor subject its participants to criminal prosecution. Furthermore, the Group emphasizes that deploying Penal Code provisions pertaining to the insult of public officials or defamation of public authorities against male and female activists for exercising their rights to expression and peaceful assembly poses a severe threat to public freedoms, curtails the civic space, and undermines the right to public participation. The appeal filed by Lawyers for Justice Group challenging the court of first instance’s judgment was predicated on several substantive legal pillars. Foremost among these was the invalidity of the arrest and arbitrary detention procedures, wherein the Group argued that Articles (29 and 107) of the Criminal Procedure Law were violated due to the total absence of any lawful arrest warrant issued by the competent authorities within the case file, coupled with the absence of flagrante delicto (in flagrant delict) or reasonable suspicion (Article 30). In addition, the two appellants were detained at the police station for seven continuous hours without legal justification following the conclusion of their interrogation, a fact that taints the procedures with an invalidity that legally extends to nullify all subsequent actions taken against them. Moreover, the evidence was contaminated by temporal and spatial contradictions between the investigative file and the testimonies delivered before the court, along with the total absence of any technical exhibit or supporting corroborative evidence conclusively linking the two accused to the incident. Consequently, this necessitated the application of the constitutional and legal maxim enshrined in the Basic Law and international conventions and covenants, dictating that “doubt shall be interpreted in favor of the accused,” and reverting to the general presumption of innocence. Lawyers for Justice Group calls for the imperative respect of constitutional and human rights standards when dealing with cases involving freedom of opinion and expression. It further demands the cessation of prosecuting activists on the grounds of their human rights or community advocacy, and underscores the necessity of ensuring that the criminal justice system is not utilized as a tool to restrict public freedoms. Lawyers for Justice Group May 25, 2026
Press Release: Ramallah Magistrate Court Refers Article 150 of the Penal Code to the Constitutional Court in the Case of Attorney Mohannad Karajeh and Lawyers for Justice
The Ramallah Magistrate Court held its second session this Monday morning, April 20, 2026, in the trial of Attorney Mohannad Karajeh and the Lawyers for Justice group. The charges pertain to fabricated social media posts attributed to Attorney Karajeh and the group in late October of last year.During the session, the Court addressed a formal challenge submitted by the Defense Council regarding the unconstitutionality of Article 150 of the Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, which relates to the charge of “inciting sectarian strife.” The defense argued that this article violates Article 19 of the Palestinian Amended Basic Law and relevant international human rights conventions.In its ruling, the Court acknowledged that the aforementioned challenge addresses a fundamental constitutional issue concerning the compatibility of the penal text with constitutional guarantees of freedom of opinion and expression. Consequently, the Court found the challenge to be of a serious nature and granted the defense the statutory period to formally file the appeal before the Supreme Constitutional Court. To this end, the trial has been temporarily stayed pending the filing and adjudication of the constitutional challenge.Lawyers for Justice views this decision by the Magistrate Court as a positive step toward re-evaluating the strategy employed by the Public Prosecution and executive authorities. This strategy has long involved utilizing the aforementioned penal text to prosecute and detain activists and human rights defenders a practice that has impacted hundreds of citizens over recent years.In conclusion, the Group underscores the significance of the Magistrate Court’s decision at this juncture, especially as executive agencies continue to exercise repression under the guise of the law. The Group looks forward to the Constitutional Court granting this appeal the necessary deliberation, free from any external interference or influence, in order to uphold the legal and constitutional rights guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law.End.Lawyers for Justice Issued on April 20, 2026
Position Paper: “Constitution Under the Ashes”
The “Lawyers for Justice” group has released a legal position paper titled “Constitution Under the Ashes,” providing a critical reading of the draft “Palestinian Interim Constitution of 2026.” The paper aims to highlight legislative irregularities affecting the political system and fundamental rights under the ongoing reality of occupation. The paper centers on the following core points: First: The Origin of the Constitutional Process The group indicates that the draft was issued via a unilateral presidential decree without a popular mandate and in the absence of an elected Legislative Council, which undermines its constituent legitimacy. Second: Restriction of Political Pluralism, Rights, and Freedoms The paper observed a conflict between the principle of pluralism and other provisions that impose restrictions on candidacy and election, which may lead to the exclusion of entire national forces and factions from the political scene. Furthermore, the group emphasized that the draft lacks an explicit provision prohibiting detention based on opinion or political affiliation, thereby opening the door to arbitrary political detention. Third: Regression of Judicial Guarantees and Arbitrary Detention The group issued a warning regarding the replacement of the “judicial warrant” requirement for arrest and search with the phrase “competent authorities,” as this constitutes a legal cover for arbitrary and political detention. Fourth: Statutory Limitation of Claims and Depriving Victims of Justice The paper noted that the draft referred the issue of the statute of limitations for claims arising from violations of rights and freedoms to [subsidiary] legislation, which constitutes an explicit deprivation of the rights of human rights violation victims to access fair justice. Fifth: Centralization of Powers and Expansion of the Head of State’s Prerogatives The draft grants the Head of State broad powers, including the appointment and dismissal of the Vice President and the dissolution of the House of Representatives. More critically, it expands his powers to issue decrees with the force of law (decree-laws) when the Legislative Council is not in session without clear constraints, thereby breaching the principle of the separation of powers and transforming the system into individual rule. Sixth: Independence of the Constitutional Judiciary The paper criticized the mechanism for appointing the President and members of the Constitutional Court by the Executive Branch, which compromises the neutrality of the Court in its capacity as the guardian of the Constitution. Seventh: Disregard for the Reality of Occupation The draft treats Palestine as a state with full sovereignty and fails to explicitly provide for the people’s right to resist occupation as guaranteed by international laws. Conclusion The “Lawyers for Justice” group believes that the current national priority lies in ending the division and stopping the aggression, rather than adopting constitutional texts that reinforce individual rule, diminish the guarantees established by the Amended Basic Law of 2003, and institutionalize legal loopholes that threaten rights and freedoms while legitimizing political detention and the statutory limitation of claims. Lawyers for Justice Group April 2026
Launch of The Second Shadow Report on Systematic Violations of Civil and Political Rights Against Palestinian Bedouin Communities in Area C (2025–2026)
Lawyers for Justice, in collaboration with the “Al-Baidar” Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, announces the release of its human rights report (Shadow Report) submitted to the Human Rights Committee, entitled: “Systematic Violations of Civil and Political Rights Against Palestinian Bedouin Communities in Area C” The report covers the period of 2025–2026 and focuses on the human rights situation in Area C of the West Bank. it highlights systematic policies that infringe upon the core of civil and political rights, including the right to life, housing, freedom of movement, and equality before the law. Key Pillars of the Report: Conclusion and Recommendations The report presents a set of recommendations directed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, most notably: Lawyers for Justice calls upon international bodies, human rights institutions, and policymakers to adopt the findings and recommendations of this report. We urge serious action to ensure respect for the civil and political rights of Palestinian Bedouin communities and to end the ongoing violations against them, in accordance with international law. Lawyers for Justice Ramallah – 2026
Launch of Shadow Report on the Systematic Erasure and Forcible Displacement of Palestinian Bedouin Communities in the West Bank (2025–2026)
Lawyers for Justice, in cooperation with “Al-Baidar” Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, announces the release of a new shadow report entitled: “The Systematic and Structural Erasure of Palestinian Bedouin Communities in the West Bank” The report covers the period between 2025–2026 and highlights the systematic policies and gross violations targeting Bedouin communities in Area C of the West Bank. It frames these actions within a colonial framework aimed at undermining the foundations of their survival and imposing coercive conditions to drive their displacement. The report is structured around four primary pillars: Conclusion and Recommendations The report concludes that the continuation of these policies aims to reconfigure the geographical landscape in favor of settlement expansion at the expense of the indigenous Palestinian population. It provides urgent recommendations to the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling for: Lawyers for Justice and Al-Baidar Organization call upon all human rights institutions, official bodies, and international entities to adopt the findings of this report and work seriously to end the policies of erasure and displacement, supporting the resilience of Bedouin communities on their land in accordance with the principles of justice and international law. Lawyers for Justice Ramallah – 2026
Press Statement: Lawyers for Justice Group: Continued Detention of Political Activist Omar Assaf Raises Serious Concerns
Lawyers for Justice Group is following with grave concern the continued detention of political activist and human rights defender Omar Assaf, aged (76), who has been held at the Preventive Security detention center since the morning of last Thursday. According to Mr. Assaf’s testimony during an interrogation session attended by the Group’s lawyers, approximately twenty security personnel raided his home, conducted a search of the premises, and confiscated some of his personal belongings. He further stated that the questioning focused on his participation in social and political activism, particularly his involvement with the “14 Million Popular Conference”, as well as statements issued by the conference and his activity on social media platforms. Charges reportedly brought against him include “inciting sectarian strife” and “defamation against the authorities.” The Group notes that Mr. Assaf exercised his right to remain silent before the Public Prosecution during the course of the investigation. Lawyers for Justice Group emphasizes that the State of Palestine is bound by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as other international conventions guaranteeing the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and to peaceful political participation. The Group considers that the continued detention of Mr. Omar Assaf constitutes a serious infringement on these rights and occurs within a broader context of pressure against human rights defenders and political activists. Such practices stand in clear contradiction with the provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law. Accordingly, the Group issues an urgent call to the competent authorities to: Immediately release the activist Omar Assaf.Guarantee his right to a fair trial in accordance with international standards.Respect public rights and freedoms, foremost among them freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful political activity.The continued detention of Mr. Assaf represents a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundations of democratic practice and erodes the legal guarantees established under Palestinian law and international conventions. Freedom for Omar AssafLawyers for Justice Group
Statement Issued by “Lawyers for Justice” Regarding the Summons of Union Activist Jihad Abu Sharar for Investigation Before the Public Prosecution
Lawyers for Justice is following with grave concern the measures taken against union activist and teacher Jihad Taha Abu Sharar, which infringe upon her constitutional and legal rights most notably her summons to appear before the Public Prosecution in Dura on Thursday, April 2, 2026. According to statements by Ms. Abu Sharar, she was previously subjected to a forced retirement penalty in 2024 due to her union activities. The Administrative Court subsequently ruled in her favor in December 2025, issuing a final and binding decision for her reinstatement. This ruling represented a victory for the rule of law and the mandatory implementation of judicial verdicts. However, the Minister of Education’s decision to re-impose the same penalty and issue a new decree confirming its continuation constitutes a blatant violation of an enforceable judicial ruling. This serves as an unacceptable evasion of the judiciary’s authority and has resulted in serious humanitarian consequences, including the termination of her health insurance. The summoning of Jihad Abu Sharar for investigation in this context raises serious concerns that it is an extension of restrictive measures aimed at her legitimate exercise of union activity a right guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international conventions. Accordingly, “Lawyers for Justice” emphasizes the following: The group further appeals to His Excellency the Attorney General to intervene immediately to halt any prosecution against teacher Jihad Abu Sharar regarding her union activity and to ensure that the instruments of justice are not used as a means of pressure or harassment. The group asserts that the targeting of Jihad Abu Sharar stems from her role in defending the rights of Palestinian teachers. This follows a troubling pattern where several of her colleagues were previously referred for investigation before committees at the Ministry of Education. We stress that official authorities must commit to respecting union work and safeguarding freedoms foremost among them the freedom of opinion and expression in alignment with the international treaties signed by the State of Palestine. Issued on: March 31, 2026 Lawyers for Justice Group
Urgent Press Statement
Lawyers for Justice Group: Dozens of Detainees Commence Open-Ended Hunger Strike at Al-Junaid Detention Center, Nablus Lawyers for Justice Group is monitoring with grave concern reports received from families of detainees and recently released individuals regarding dozens of detainees at the Al-Junaid Detention Center in Nablus entering an open-ended hunger strike since the beginning of this week. This protest comes in response to reported dire detention conditions, including punitive measures, communication restrictions, medical negligence, and allegations of torture, humiliation, and ill-treatment. According to testimonies obtained by the Group, approximately (165) detainees are participating in the strike to protest their conditions of confinement and their prolonged detention without clear legal justification. This is particularly critical in cases where judicial release orders have been issued but remain unexecuted or ignored—some for extended periods. These practices bring back to the forefront the issues of “Administrative Detention” and detention at the pleasure of Governors or security chiefs. The testimonies further indicate that the detention center administration and security services have taken measures against the strikers, including: While Lawyers for Justice Group confirms that this data is based on reports from families and former detainees, it emphasizes the necessity of allowing competent authorities to conduct independent field verifications to assess the strikers’ demands and their health and legal status. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice Group demands the following: The Group stresses that ensuring the humane treatment of detainees, respecting legal procedures—specifically the execution of release orders—and enabling oversight of prison administration (especially in Al-Junaid Prison) are legal obligations of the competent authorities, particularly the Ministry of Interior. Any breach of these obligations escalates risks to detainees’ health and undermines confidence in the justice system. The Group considers this statement an urgent and immediate appeal to address the demands, health conditions, and legal status of the hunger strikers. We call upon local and international civil society organizations, as well as the Ministry of Interior, to investigate allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and poor detention conditions, and to fulfill the strikers’ demands and improve their circumstances. Lawyers for Justice Group Issued on: February 18, 2026