The thirty-ninth session of the trial of the political activist and former detainee; Suha Jabara.
Today, February 20, 2023, the 39th session of the trial of the political activist and former detainee, Suha Jabara, was held at the Jericho Court of First Instance (Jericho Criminal Court). Jabara has been prosecuted since June 2019. She was arrested from her home in the town of Turmusaya in November 2018. The arrest was marked by physical and psychological torture, ill-treatment, a long-hour investigation at the headquarters of the Security Committee and a hunger strike. The Public Prosecution and the “Lawyers for Justice” group had concluded their evidence earlier, and only the stage of the prosecution’s pleading, and the group’s pleading, were left to complete the trial procedures. … Lawyers for Justice February 20, 2023
Administrative Detention (March 2021- March 2022)
The arbitrary arrest cases that had not been presented to any court, were 31 cases including the cases of remand by the governor. #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
detention on the basis of opinion and expression (March 2021- March 2022)
The “Lawyers for Justice” group worked with 75 cases, those who had been arrested on the background of freedom of opinion and expression, represent 41.8% of the total arrest cases. 11 cases were arrested for publishing political critiques on social media platforms, while 63 cases were arrested for political affiliation. #Ongoing_Crisis
Press conference to publish a report entitled “Ongoing Crisis; The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the WestBank”
The “Lawyers for Justice” group is honored to invite you to attend its press conference, which will include the publication of a report on the arbitrary arrests during the Second year of the state of emergency, entitled “Ongoing Crisis; The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” on Thursday the 23th of February 2023 at 12:00 pm at Lawyers for Justice – Al Bireh – Al Balou’ – behind Bun Zheiman.
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
Proceedings of the trial of the accused in killing the activist Nizar Banat
Yesterday, January 29, 2023, a trial session was held at the special military court in Ramallah for the 14 members of the preventive security, accused of killing the martyr Nizar Banat, the session was held in the presence of the entire ruling body, and in the presence of the fourteen accused who were previously released, their attorney, and a representative of the military prosecution. “Lawyers for Justice” group followed the session as an observer of the trial sessions of the accused in the case of the murder of activist Nizar Banat, and some colleagues and representatives of local and international human rights institutions. Within the framework of the litigation procedures; The defense attorney presented his defense evidence, represented by an expert, who is a forensic doctor, head of the forensic medicine department in a hospital in Jordan, doctor (A.A.); Who submitted his report to the court, then he was discussed about this report by the defense attorney, the representative of the military prosecution, and by the court; he summarized in his report, “The cause of death of the deceased is due to heart and respiratory failure.” He added, “The cause of death is the health condition that the deceased was suffering from.” He commented on the forensic report, “What they found of the death result is not correct” The doctor (A.A) confirmed that his basis in constructing his report relied on the forensic medical report, the medical file of Nizar before his martyrdom, in addition to some papers and files that he received from the court. In its role, the Military Prosecution objected to showing the medical report prepared by the expert, expressing that it is a structural and office report, and it did not rely on examination, and autopsy, and that the approved reports must be issued by the competent authorities, but the court added the report to the case file. The observer of the “Lawyers for Justice” group made some observations during the session, which was initially represented by the expert detouring by answering some questions of the court and the prosecution, and answering them in general terms, the defense attorney intervened by adding some words or phrases to the expert’s answers, the presence of some terms in the report of the expert, who confirmed verbally that they are either wrong or not found in the medical dictionary, such as the term traumatic shock, The session was adjourned for 10 minutes, then he returned and said after the adjournment of the session, “The term traumatic shock exists only in the head and not in the rest of the body, and it does not apply to Nizar’s case, but rather what applies to Nizar’s case in the head is bruises” the defense attorney interrupted the court and the prosecution. It is noteworthy that the session was adjourned to February 26, 2023, and was postponed to allow the defense attorney to decide whether he wishes to provide additional evidence or not. It is worth mentioning that today’s session started at 10:00 and ended at 1:45. … January 30, 2023 Lawyers for Justice
“Lawyers for Justice” group is following with great concern the flagrant violations of the human rights situation in the case of political detainee Basil Flayan.
“Lawyers for Justice” group is following up with great concern the flagrant violations in the case of the political, administrative detainee, Basil Flayan. Despite obtaining two release decisions from the Ramallah magistrate court, these decisions were as if they were not with the general intelligence. But the general intelligence refuses to abide by the court’s decisions to release him. Back on December 13, 2022, the general intelligence arrested Flayan as part of a wide campaign of political arrests launched by the Palestinian security services, and kept him in administrative detention, without going through the necessary legal procedures until December 22, 2022, when they referred his case to the Public Prosecution, which charged him with political charges, Until “Lawyers for Justice” group obtained a release decision in favor of Flayan from the Ramallah magistrate court; However, the general intelligence refused to release him, and on January 8, 2023, the general intelligence referred a new case to the Public Prosecution, which they had attached to him, and again, the Public Prosecution charged him with a new charge of a political nature, Until January 17, 2023, when he obtained a release decision after the group and his family completed the guarantee procedures, but again, the general intelligence is intransigent and refuses to implement the court’s decision to release Flayan, and keeps him in administrative detention without charging him with any charge, or presenting him to a court or public procuratorate , or be released. Accordingly, “Lawyers for Justice” group holds the general intelligence responsible for the life of detainee Flayan, especially after the allegations of torture he raised before the extension judge, and that the continued illegal and administrative detention of detainee Flayan may be evidence of his continued torture. Hence, we consider this statement as a communication to the Attorney General to report an illegally detained person as stated in the text of Article (128) of the Code of Criminal Procedures, and accordingly we ask the Attorney General to open an investigation into the illegal arrest of the detainee, And then take all the necessary legal measures represented in the immediate release of Flyan. … Lawyers for Justice January 23, 2023