Letter from the Archie Thomas Sankara Club – Italy Dated 26 October 2025Regarding the Pursuit of Lawyers for Justice and Its Director, Advocate Mohannad Karajah
To: The Diplomatic Mission of the State of Palestine in ItalyAttn: Mr. Mohammed S. A. Salem, First SecretarySubject: Immediate Release of Advocate Mohannad Karajah Advocate Mohannad Karajah, from the organization Lawyers for Justice—which is twinned with our own—was detained in the West Bank upon his return from a trip abroad. Advocate Karajah is a human rights defender and a key initiator of the twinning partnership between the Bar Association of Messina (Italy) and the Palestinian Bar Association. He is a person committed to the rule of law and justice. We have been informed of a slander and defamation campaign targeting him, based on fabricated news, images, and texts generated using artificial intelligence. It is absolutely unacceptable that someone of such high ethical and professional standing be associated with such a false and abusive campaign. The security cooperation agreement between the occupying power and the Palestinian National Authority must not, under any circumstances, be used to criminalize those who embody the true opposite of authoritarianism—individuals who enjoy wide respect in Europe and in many Western countries, including the United States. We also remind you that Advocate Mohannad Karajah has been a guest on several occasions of European Union missions, as well as United Nations bodies and offices. Accordingly, the undersigned, Patrizia Maiorana, the legal representative of the Archie Thomas Sankara Club,calls for the immediate release of Advocate Mohannad Karajah,so that Palestine may demonstrate a real commitment to the rule of law and justice. We kindly request that you provide us urgently with updates on the progress of this case. Messina, 26 October 2025Signed:Patrizia MaioranaLegal RepresentativeArchie Thomas Sankara Club
His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas President of the State of Palestine Office of the President Al-Muqataa – Ramallah State of Palestine
info@president.ps Brussels, 29 October 2025 Subject: Arrest of Advocate Mohannad Karajah, Director of “Lawyers for Justice,” and the Ongoing Campaign of Incitement, Threats, and Fabricated Accusations Online Your Excellency, I have the honor to write to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents the bars and legal societies of 46 European countries, comprising more than one million European lawyers. The CCBE places great importance on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and closely follows the situation of lawyers at risk around the world. The CCBE expresses its deep concern regarding the recent arrest of Advocate Mohannad Karajah, Director of “Lawyers for Justice,” by Palestinian security forces in Jericho Governorate upon his return from travel. This arrest occurred in the context of an unprecedented campaign of incitement, based on falsified and fabricated posts falsely attributed to him and to his organization, which are believed to be a reaction to his legal work and human-rights activities. According to the information received, fabricated statements and posts were widely circulated on social media calling for the arrest and prosecution of Advocate Karajah, despite public clarifications confirming that these materials were falsified. Reports indicate that two independent verification entities concluded that the circulated posts attributed to “Lawyers for Justice” and its director were digitally manipulated as part of an organized disinformation campaign. This campaign appears to involve multiple social-media accounts, including Telegram channels and Facebook pages, some of which are believed to be linked to political, media, or security actors, and which fueled calls to close the organization’s offices, revoke lawyers’ licenses, and label the group as “supporters of terrorism.” In this context, we have received information stating that Advocate Mohannad Karajah was arrested on 26 October and released after several hours of interrogation, but was informed the following day of a complaint filed against him before the Public Prosecution based on the same fabricated posts. These actions reportedly appear to be retaliatory measures linked to his ongoing human-rights work over more than fifteen years, amid an atmosphere of incitement that included death threats. We further understand that these acts have extended to include members of his family: his brother, Hassan Yasser Karajah, was summoned for questioning at the Preventive Security headquarters on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, to appear at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 23 October. He was briefly detained and—according to reports—subjected to pressure aimed at compelling Advocate Karajah to submit to arrest or interrogation orders despite his prior clarifications. The CCBE is profoundly concerned that the pattern of harassment, defamation, and threats targeting “Lawyers for Justice” and Advocate Karajah appears designed to silence a legal-rights organization and intimidate its staff, thereby undermining the legal profession and the protection of fundamental rights. The CCBE wishes to draw your attention to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (attached), particularly Principles 16, 17, and 18, which ensure that lawyers are able to perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, or improper interference, as well as Principle 23 concerning freedom of expression and association. The CCBE also wishes to highlight the recent Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, and encourages its signature and ratification once open for accession. In light of the above, the CCBE urges the competent authorities to guarantee the safety and freedom of Advocate Mohannad Karajah, and to ensure that “Lawyers for Justice” and all lawyers are able to carry out their duties without fear of retaliation, obstruction, intimidation, or harassment—particularly as the reported campaign is believed to rely on fabricated and misleading content designed to undermine their legitimate legal and human-rights work. The CCBE also recalls that all lawyers must be able to perform their professional duties without fear of reprisal or intimidation, in order to safeguard the independence and integrity of the justice system and the rule of law. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Thierry WickersPresidentCouncil of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
Public Statement on the Circumstances of the Arrest and Prosecution of Lawyers for Justice and Its Director, Advocate Mohannad Karajah, Based on Fabricated Posts
Since 18 October 2025, Lawyers for Justice has been closely monitoring a deceptive campaign of incitement and defamation launched through fabricated and manipulated posts disseminated by individuals operating within what has become evidently a coordinated and funded effort targeting the organization and its director, Advocate Mohannad Karajah. Over the past two weeks, the campaign has escalated through the actions of virtual actors on social media, who were shown to be operating in coordination with individuals active across multiple geographic locations outside the West Bank and Gaza. These actors work within a unified network that launches synchronized waves of incitement designed to manufacture a false public perception. The organization notes that this coordinated virtual network engages in systematic and directed incitement, relying on the circulation and exchange of inflammatory content via WhatsApp at pre-determined times, without any verification of the authenticity of the material being circulated. During this period, the organization also monitored the identities of individuals and entities that amplified and promoted this content through media outlets in an attempt to legitimize it. This was not surprising to Lawyers for Justice, given that the organization has, throughout its years of legal and human-rights work, been subjected to similar campaigns seeking to incite hostility toward its work. Such campaigns reflect the difficult environment in which a human-rights organization operates, particularly in the face of narratives fueled by hatred and incitement to violence — narratives that have been reinforced by official statements that support and legitimize this harmful pattern rather than confronting it or holding its perpetrators accountable. In this context, the organization notes that on 26 October 2025, while Advocate Mohannad Karajah was returning to Palestine, he was detained for several hours in connection with the incitement campaign targeting him, after his passport was confiscated by Palestinian security forces. He was later released due to the absence of any legal grounds for his detention. Subsequently, on 27 October 2025, Advocate Karajah received — through the Palestinian Bar Association — a notice from the Public Prosecution requesting him to appear regarding a complaint filed by one of the individuals promoting and participating in the fabricated campaign. It must be emphasized that this type of case does not require a personal complaint to initiate proceedings, as the Public Prosecution has the authority to act on its own motion, even assuming the alleged facts were true. Advocate Karajah indeed appeared before the Public Prosecution in Ramallah on 27 October 2025 and briefed the Chief Prosecutor on the alleged facts, supported by findings issued by specialized social-media platforms that verify fabricated content and misinformation. However, the Chief Prosecutor rejected this and asked Advocate Karajah to “cooperate in resolving the issue” by handing over the password to his Facebook account — a request he refused, as it constitutes an unlawful intrusion into his privacy, which is protected by law. The investigation was postponed to Wednesday, 29 October 2025. Due to his refusal to “cooperate” by surrendering his private login credentials, a formal investigation was opened and a 48-hour detention order was issued to “complete the investigation,” despite the fact that the law provides legal tools through which the authenticity of posts can be examined without violating the privacy of Advocate Karajah as a defendant or infringing on his right to a fair trial. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice affirms the following: Lawyers for JusticeIssued on 02 November 2025
Statement on the Defamation Campaign Targeting Lawyers for Justice and Its Director, Advocate Mohannad Karajah, Based on Fabricated Posts
Since the evening of Saturday, 18 October 2025, Lawyers for Justice has been monitoring a coordinated campaign of incitement and defamation targeting the organization and its director, Advocate Mohannad Karajah. The campaign is being carried out through suspicious Facebook pages and accounts—some fake, others duplicated—that deliberately publish fabricated and manipulated posts falsely attributed to the organization and to Advocate Karajah. These acts constitute a complete criminal offense under the Cybercrimes Law and pose a serious threat to the organization’s human-rights work. From the first moment, the organization and Advocate Karajah publicly denied these false posts and confirmed that they had no connection to them. However, the campaign continued in a systematic and synchronized manner and was accompanied by malicious reports and complaints submitted to the Office of the Attorney General, aimed at pressuring authorities to issue arrest warrants or punitive measures. Similar complaints were submitted to the Palestinian Bar Association, clearly reflecting an intent to mislead public opinion, distort the truth, and retaliate against the organization’s work in defending human rights and public freedoms. The organization has initiated communication with several local and international human-rights bodies concerned with the protection of human-rights defenders, informing them of the severity and scope of the incitement campaign. A formal report on the content of this campaign was also submitted to the Palestinian Bar Association and the Office of the Attorney General to pursue those responsible for the crimes of incitement, defamation, threats, and falsification. The organization has also documented statements made by the “Spokesperson for the Security Services” in a media interview, in which he relied on the fabricated narrative being circulated—thus attempting to influence public opinion and fuel hate speech and incitement. This represents a serious overreach into the domain of the judiciary, the sole authority empowered to adjudicate such claims, and constitutes a violation of the Palestinian Basic Law. Accordingly, the organization affirms the following: End of Statement
Statement Issued by Lawyers for JusticeRegarding the Circulation of Fabricated Posts Attributed to the Organization and Its Director
Lawyers for Justice declares that, as part of its efforts to refute and disprove the false allegations made by suspicious social-media pages—which have attributed fabricated posts to the organization and to its director, Advocate Mohannad Karajah, particularly on Facebook—it has initiated legal procedures to pursue those involved in creating and promoting false and misleading content aimed at undermining its human-rights work and legal activities in the defense of human rights. In this context, the organization announces that it has contacted several international human-rights institutions and organizations, which have in turn referred all fabricated materials to their specialized departments to verify the authenticity and origin of the posts. These organizations are currently coordinating with Facebook’s headquarters to establish the true source of the content, identify those responsible for producing and disseminating it—including individuals located in several countries who appear to be acting under instructions and directives intended to deter the organization from continuing its human-rights mission and to deviate it from its rights-based path. In this same context, Lawyers for Justice calls on all competent authorities to fulfill their responsibilities in verifying the authenticity of these posts using the means and tools at their disposal, rather than being drawn behind fabricated content—particularly since Lawyers for Justice is widely known for its legal integrity and human-rights discourse aligned with international human-rights standards. The organization also notes that throughout its years of work, it has faced numerous campaigns and conspiracies intended to undermine it, manipulate its positions, or pressure it into abandoning its principled commitment to human rights. Accordingly, the organization affirms that it awaits the outcomes of the specialized investigations and correspondences regarding these fabricated posts, and reiterates that it will take legal action against any individual or entity proven to be involved. The results of these inquiries will be published on the organization’s official page. The organization further clarifies that it has been operating in the cities of the occupied West Bank since its establishment, and that circumstances have never allowed it to work in the Gaza Strip—particularly given that it is not registered as an institution, organization, or association with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.
Statement issued by Lawyers for Justice on the Postponement of the Trial of the Defendants in the Killing of Political Activist Nizar Banat
On the morning of Monday, September 29, 2025, a hearing was held in the trial of the defendants accused of killing the late political and human rights activist Nizar Banat. During the session, the defense attorney for the defendants requested additional time to present the defense evidence and to summon Dr. Mohammad Al-Shalaldeh, former Minister of Justice and head of the investigative committee formed by the Palestinian Authority following the assassination incident, to testify. It should be noted that this is the third hearing that has been postponed for the same reason due to the absence of the aforementioned witness. The group believes that the continued postponements without any progress in the trial proceedings conflict with the guarantees of a fair trial, which require a swift process that respects the rights of all parties—particularly the rights of the late activist Banat, his family, and Palestinian society as a whole. At the conclusion of the proceedings, the court decided to adjourn the session until October 6, 2025. Lawyers for Justice29.9.2025
Statement Issued by Lawyers for Justice On the Detention and Subsequent Release of Community Activist Ramah Al-Bayaa over Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Lawyers for Justice is deeply concerned over the case of community activist Ramah Al-Bayaa (62 years old) from the town of Beitunia, who was arrested last Thursday evening from her home by the Palestinian police’s General Investigations Unit, without the presentation of an official arrest warrant, according to her testimony. Mrs. Al-Bayaa was interrogated over posts she had published on Facebook and was charged with defaming the Authority under the Cybercrime Law—an excessive and abusive use of this law against public freedoms and freedom of expression. In her testimony to our team, Mrs. Al-Bayaa stated that she was subjected to ill-treatment during interrogation and detention despite her difficult health condition and her suffering from chronic illnesses. She was later transferred to the Military Medical Services before being held for four days at the women’s detention facility in the Balouʿ area – Al-Bireh. She was brought before the Magistrate Court judge in Ramallah last Sunday, where the above-mentioned charge was formally filed against her, after which she was released on personal bail. We at Lawyers for Justice affirm that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and may not be restricted through the use of vague provisions in the Cybercrime Law. We categorically reject the ongoing practices of silencing voices and arbitrarily arresting activists based on their political positions or critical opinions. The group issues an urgent appeal to local and international human rights institutions, as well as to the UN Special Rapporteurs, to take immediate action to end the policy of persecution on the basis of opinion and to hold accountable all those involved in violations of fundamental human rights in Palestine. Lawyers for JusticeRamallah – PalestineDate: 18/09/2025
Position Paper Issued by Lawyers for Justice On the Presidential Decree Establishing a Committee to Draft a Temporary Constitution
The birth of the Palestinian National Authority on the land of Palestine was born from the womb of the Palestinian national struggle led by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and it expresses the sacrifices made to consolidate the inalienable national rights, represented in the right of return, self-determination, and the establishment of the independent Palestinian state—rights for which the Palestinian people have offered thousands of martyrs, wounded, and prisoners from among their best sons. Based on this national and historical legitimacy, the Palestinian Basic Law was adopted as the constitutional reference regulating Palestinian political and legal life. Article (115) of Chapter Eight stipulates: “The provisions of this Basic Law shall be applied during the transitional phase, which may be extended until the new constitution of the Palestinian State comes into force.” Accordingly, any attempt to bypass or replace it through presidential decrees and appointed committees constitutes a clear violation of this constitutional rule. First: Constitutional and Legal Issues Second: Affirmation of Rights and Freedoms Chapter Two of the Basic Law (Articles 9–33) enshrines a set of fundamental rights and freedoms that form the cornerstone of any democratic system: equality, personal freedom, the right to a fair trial, prohibition of torture, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of movement, the right to education and work, the right to union and political organization, and freedom of the press, alongside other social, economic, and humanitarian rights.These rights are binding and must be respected under the Basic Law, and may not be diminished or unilaterally reformulated in a way that threatens their essence. Third: National and Political Implications 1- Deepening of political division if a temporary constitution is imposed without consensus and in disregard of the prevailing national and political reality, rendering it theoretical, disconnected from practice, and ultimately unenforceable. 2- Damage to Palestine’s international legitimacy through entrenching unilateral practices that undermine democracy. 3- Undermining the national and historical rights affirmed by the Basic Law and its binding preamble. Fourth: Recommendations End Lawyers for Justice23 August 2025
Statement by Lawyers for Justice Regarding the Announcement of the Winner of the Nizar Banat Human Rights Defenders Award for 2025
Lawyers for Justice announces the selection of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, a prisoner from the Gaza Strip, as the recipient of the Nizar Banat Award for At-Risk Human Rights Defenders in its inaugural edition. The award was launched by the group on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of human rights activist and political dissident Nizar Banat, in honor of his legacy and struggle for freedom and dignity. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya was chosen following a thorough evaluation process conducted by an independent jury composed of prominent human rights experts. The selection was based on clear criteria, including the nominee’s track record in human rights work, the level of threats and risks faced, place of residence, and the continuity of their activism. Dr. Abu Safiya is a leading physician and human rights defender in Gaza. He is currently detained by the Israeli occupation authorities and lost one of his children during the recent aggression on the Strip. Despite his imprisonment, he continues his struggle from behind bars. The group affirms that this award aims to shed light on the sacrifices made by human rights defenders, particularly in the face of the ongoing genocide against civilians in Gaza and the suppression of freedoms. It also seeks to highlight the suffering of political prisoners and those who defend dignity under fire and bombardment. Lawyers for Justice extends its salute to all shortlisted nominees and considers them partners in the struggle to defend human rights. June 29, 2025Lawyers for Justice
Statement by Lawyers for Justice On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Today, June 26, 2025, marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This day comes at a time when the crime of genocide against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip continues for the second consecutive year, alongside the ongoing settler attacks targeting cities and villages in the occupied West Bank. On this occasion, renewed attention is drawn to the crimes of torture faced by hundreds of individuals each year—especially prisoners and detainees who have experienced incarceration, often accompanied by physical and psychological torture. In this context, the group highlights the alarming escalation in the use of physical and psychological torture against Palestinian prisoners, particularly those who have been detained by Israeli occupation forces after October 7, 2023. Numerous direct testimonies have been documented from Palestinian prisoners who reported unprecedented physical and psychological torture, starting from the moment of arrest, continuing through interrogation, and even during periods of detention in prisons or temporary detention centers, according to verified testimonies from recently released individuals. Additionally, prisoners suffer from systematic ill-treatment, including medical neglect, denial of basic rights, and harsh conditions that amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. Over the past two years, human rights institutions have reported the death of nearly 65 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention facilities, including approximately 40 from Gaza and 25 from the West Bank. The group emphasizes that these figures remain estimations, given the continued Israeli policy of media blackout and refusal to provide accurate information about the fate of hundreds of detainees, especially from Gaza, many of whom remain unaccounted for. These cases include individuals who died as a result of torture and ill-treatment or were subjected to extrajudicial executions after arrest. This demands immediate intervention to halt these crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable to ensure justice for the victims. Torture in Palestinian Authority Detention Centers Despite the Palestinian Authority’s ratification of the Convention Against Torture and its issuance of Law by Decree No. 25 of 2023, recent years—particularly since 2023—have witnessed a concerning continuation of torture practices within detention centers operated by Palestinian security agencies. Dozens of cases have been documented in which detainees were subjected to physical and psychological torture during arrest or detention, including severe beatings, stress positions, insults, and denial of medical care. Many torture-related cases remain under judicial review within the Palestinian courts without resulting in genuine accountability for those responsible for these violations. The facts indicate a significant gap between the legal commitments made by the Palestinian Authority under the Convention Against Torture and the actual practices on the ground. The principle of non-impunity remains unenforced, and judicial procedures lack the effectiveness and independence necessary to ensure justice for victims. This reality entrenches a state of official complicity and silence, undermines public trust in the justice system, and poses a serious threat to human rights and the rule of law in the Palestinian territories. On this occasion, Lawyers for Justice stresses the importance of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms—foremost among them the right to humane treatment—and the absolute rejection of torture under any circumstance or justification.The group emphasizes that this commitment requires official bodies to activate the legal and procedural tools necessary to hold accountable anyone proven to be involved in acts of torture and to bring them to justice, in line with the provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law and the international conventions to which the State of Palestine has acceded—chief among them the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Allowing these violations to persist without accountability strips the law of its meaning and renders legal texts mere theoretical commitments with no practical application, thereby entrenching a culture of impunity and undermining the foundations of justice and the rule of law. Achieving justice for victims and prosecuting those responsible for acts of torture is the cornerstone of building a legal system where human dignity is upheld, and rights and freedoms are protected. EndLawyers for JusticeIssued on 26-06-2025