Lawyers for Justice

Due to the non-attendance of the witness (W.N), the scheduled court session for the accused involved in the killing of Nizar Banat at the Special Military Court in Ramallah was once again adjourned.

On this day, Sunday, June 11, 2023, the scheduled court session for the accused involved in the killing of Nizar Banat at the Special Military Court in Ramallah was once again adjourned due to the non-attendance of the witness (W.N). The session was held in the presence of the representatives of the Military Prosecution, the fourteen defendants, and the defense lawyer. The “Lawyers for Justice” group participated in the session in the capacity of an observer, with the intention of ensuring the preservation of fair trial safeguards. Additionally, several colleagues representing both local and international institutions, were present with the same objective in mind. The session opened at 12:18 am and was promptly adjourned at 12:23 due to the Military Prosecution informing the court that the Internal Security at the Police informed the Military Prosecution, today, that the witness is currently on sick leave. The rescheduled court proceedings are scheduled to take place on Monday, June 26, 2023. Accordingly; The “Lawyers for Justice” group calls on local and international human rights institutions to attend the upcoming sessions to ensure that they are conducted impartially and without delay. … Lawyers for Justice June 11, 2023

Postponement of the session regarding the appeal submitted to the Administrative Court by the “Lawyers for Justice” group regarding the decision to restrict its registration.

The Administrative Court in Ramallah decided yesterday, Wednesday, to postpone the court session regarding the appeal filed by “Lawyers for Justice” against the decision to restrict its registration with the Companies Registrar, which the group was notified of on 26-3-2023 until 21-6-2023. In the first session of the trial, the group’s representative presented a portion of their evidence, while also requesting communication with some official departments to provide the court with additional documents and information. The court, on its part, decided to postpone the session in order to consider the group’s representative’s request in this regard. … Lawyers for Justice June 8, 2023

A statement issued by the “Lawyers for Justice” group regarding the arrest of Tariq Al-Haj Ali, an employee at Birzeit University.

The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns in the strongest terms the arrest by the General Intelligence Service in Ramallah of the employee at Birzeit University, Tariq Haj Ali, and the confiscation of his car without any legal basis, after he and his wife were intercepted, and intimidated. The General Intelligence arrested Haj Ali in civilian clothes without carrying an arrest warrant, in addition to using excessive force by shooting near his car during his arrest. They also searched his wife’s phone and assaulted her. The group also denounces such arrests, in addition to the brutal method of arrest that accompanies many violations; Whether at the level of local laws or international agreements and treaties. Accordingly; The group calls for the immediate release of the detainee, Hajj Ali, and for those involved in his arrest and the shooting in the vicinity of his vehicle to be held accountable. … Lawyers for Justice 5, June 2023    

Next Wednesday, the first session will be held regarding the administrative appeal submitted by the “Lawyers for Justice” group against the decision of the Ministry of National Economy to restrict the group’s registration as a civil company.

Following the decision issued by the Ministry of National Economy on March 26, 2023 to restrict the registration of the “Lawyers for Justice” group in the corporate registry as a civil company registered with the Ministry of National Economy based on instructions from the General Intelligence agency in Ramallah, the group filed an administrative appeal before the Administrative Court in Ramallah, to cancel the decision and issue a certificate for the year 2023, which will hold its first session on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. in this context; The group confirms what it issued in a previous statement that it operates as a civil company registered with the Ministry of Economy in Ramallah, in line with the decisions and laws in force regarding civil companies to provide legal services and human rights, stated under the Articles of Association of the company with the Company’s Controller. The “Lawyers for Justice” group was also subjected to a systematic series of harassment and incitement that affected its work and its members since the beginning of its work, in an attempt to stop the group from its work in representing and advocating human rights defenders, and political detainees. And documenting the violations they are subjected to. In this context, the group affirms the continuation of its work, which it started in 2011, in defiance of all the harassment it is exposed to. During the month of May, the group followed up 34 cases of arrest against different backgrounds, distributed as follows: (23) Arrests on the basis of political and partisan pluralism, (4) Arrests on the Basis of Peaceful Assembly, (4) Arrests on the basis of student union work, (3) Arrests based on freedom of opinion and expression. In conclusion; Lawyers for Justice calls on colleagues in local and international human rights institutions to support the group in its legal quest to annul the administrative decision to freeze its registration, which came at the request of the General Intelligence Service. … Lawyers for Justice 3, June 2023

The security agencies are trying to legitimize the arrest of the detainees by fabricating criminal cases against them in the courts in order to justify their arrest.

The “Lawyers for Justice” group denounced the apparent deterioration in the human rights situation in the West Bank, and the consequent refusal of court decisions to release political detainees by the security services, which are trying to legitimize the detention of detainees by fabricating criminal cases. against them in the courts to justify their arrest.   In this context, the “Lawyers for Justice” group was surprised by the insistence of the General Intelligence agency in Jericho to arrest the political detainee, and the released prisoner from the occupation prisons, Moamen Al-Qaraawi, from Nur Shams camp, who works as an English language teacher.    Although two decisions were issued by the Jericho Magistrate Court to release Qaraawi, these two decisions were appealed or reconsidered to legitimize his detention.   It is noteworthy that Al-Qaraawi was arrested on May 8, 2023 by members of the General Intelligence agency in Tulkarm, before being transferred to the Intelligence headquarters in Jericho. … Lawyers for Justice June 1, 2023  

Today, Sunday, the Ramallah Special Military Court postponed the trial of the defendants in the case of the murder of political dissident Nizar Banat until May 28, 2023.

Today, Sunday, May 7, 2023, the Special Military Court in Ramallah postponed the trial session of 14 members of the Preventive Security Service accused of killing the political dissident, and the candidate for the canceled legislative elections; the martyr Nizar Banat.     The session was held in the presence of the full court, the representative of the Military Prosecution, thirteen out of the fourteen defendants, their lawyers, the “Lawyers for Justice” group attended the session as an observer of fair trial guarantees, in addition to the presence of some colleagues representing local and international institutions, and embassies for the same purpose.   While the defense lawyer submitted to the court a medical report issued by Hebron Governmental Hospital – Heart Department dated 5/6/2023, in which it was stated that the first defendant “He came to Hebron Governmental Hospital – Department of Cardiology suffering from severe chest pains. He was examined and it was decided to perform an urgent catheterization.” Requesting the court to consider the absence of the first accused for a legitimate excuse, and in conclusion, the court decided to consider his absence for a legitimate excuse, and the session was postponed to May 28, 2023.     Accordingly; The “Lawyers for Justice” group calls on local and international human rights institutions to attend the upcoming sessions to ensure that they are conducted impartially and without delay. … Lawyers for Justice May 7, 2023    

The Magistrate Court in Ramallah held the fourteenth session for the trial of three activists from the “Enough, Telecommunications Companies” Movement

Today, Sunday 30, April 2023, the Magistrate Court in Ramallah held the fourteenth session for the trial of three activists from the “Enough, Telecommunications Companies” movement, and they are Musa Al-Qaisiyya, Jihad Abdo, Ezz El-Din Al-Zol, this comes against the backdrop of allegations made by the Palestinian Telecommunications Company through the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ramallah, accusing the three activists of defaming the company through social media, the criticism by the aforementioned relates to the company’s policy regarding high telecom rates and consumer fraud.   In the complaint against the aforementioned activists, the telecommunications company claims that it incurred financial losses of 10 million dinars due to criticism of the company’s policy by the aforementioned activists, and also demands compensation of 10 million Jordanian dinars in lieu of the alleged losses.    The Ramallah Magistrate Court decided to postpone the activists’ trial session to July 11, 2023, based on the prosecution’s request to submit the rest of the evidence, noting that the prosecution has a deadline to submit evidence since November 2021. The Magistrate Court gave an additional and final deadline for submitting their evidence or considering the prosecution to be sufficiently with the evidence presented.   30, April 2023 Lawyers for Justice  

As part of the revolving door policy, the occupation forces arrested the political detainee, who was released yesterday evening from the Jericho intelligence headquarters, Muhammad Blaibli.

Yesterday evening, March 22, 2023, the General Intelligence service in the city of Jericho released the political detainee, Muhammad Blaibli, according to a decision issued by the Magistrate Court in Jericho, on the condition of a personal guarantee of 2,000 Jordanian dinars, after being detained for political reasons for more than a week. While the Blaibli family was surprised today that he was arrested by the occupation forces while he was on his way from Nablus to his home in Tulkarem, while this arrest comes within the policy of the condemned and rejected revolving door, which makes the Palestinian citizen vulnerable to moving between the political detention centers of the Palestinian Authority and those of the occupation, with the aim of completing the same investigation. Accordingly; The “Lawyers for Justice” group renews its rejection and condemnation of the revolving door policy and political detentions, which contradict the provisions of Article (9) of the Palestinian Basic Law, which states that “Palestinians are equal before the law and the judiciary without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, political opinion, or disability.” … Lawyers for Justice March 23, 2023

The Magistrate’s Court in Nablus acquitted all the citizens arrested for participating in the funeral of the martyr Abd al-Fattah Kharousha.

Today, Sunday, March 19, 2023, the Magistrate’s Court in Nablus acquitted all the citizens arrested for participating in the funeral of the martyr Abd al-Fattah Kharousha, after the Palestinian security services suppressed this funeral.   Accordingly; The “Lawyers for Justice” group commended these court rulings, stressing in its role that such court rulings enhance citizen’s right to political participation, in addition to their right to freedom of opinion and expression. … Lawyers for Justice March 19, 2023

After referring his case to trial, the Qalqilya Magistrate Court decided to release the arrested teacher, Moayad Shreim.

Today, March 19, 2023, the Public Prosecution referred the investigation file of the detainee, teacher Moayad Shreim, to the Magistrate Court in Qalqilya, and the Public Prosecution read the indictment and its details, which included the charge of defaming the authorities, in violation of the provisions of Article (191) of Penal Code No. 16 of 1960. In conclusion, the court decided to release Shreim in exchange for a personal guarantee of 2,000 Jordanian dinars, and at the same time postponed the session to May 10, 2023, to give the Public Prosecution an opportunity to present its evidence, which is the testimony of a member of the Preventive Security Service. It is noteworthy that Shreim was arrested due to a post attributed to him on the social networking sites Facebook, on the basis of the teachers’ movement. … Lawyers for Justice March 19, 2023