“Ongoing Crisis” The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank/ The summary
The “Lawyers for Justice” group Annual Report 2021-2022 “Ongoing Crisis” The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank The summary The year 2021 marked a qualitative difference in the human rights situation in the West Bank; the pace of violations escalated dramatically, especially after the assassination of the political critic “Nizar Banat” by forces from the security agencies, the techniques used by the security agencies to suppress public rights and freedoms varied, reaching the highest levels of repression. Lawyers for Justice followed up the deterioration of public rights and freedoms in the West Bank during the year, and the harassment, assault and repression that citizens were subjected to due to their practices of those rights. Accordingly; This report deals with civil and political rights in international conventions compared to Palestinian national legislation, these include the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, the right to life, the right to physical and psychological integrity, the right to participate in political life, and the right to litigation and fair trial guarantees, it also reviews the reality of exercising those rights in the occupied West Bank. The group monitored and documented all the cases it followed, in addition to the cases that had a great resonance and impact on the Palestinian street, including the trial sessions of the late “Banat” in the annual report for the second year since the declaration of the state of emergency, which covers the period from (March 2021) to (March 2022), where the number of cases of political arrests increased significantly, and all peaceful demonstrations and assemblies were suppressed, and the method of threats and extortion was used against demonstrators, both males and females, the report also dealt with the harassment and distortion that the group was subjected to, with the aim of hindering its work in protecting human rights, the report also highlighted the continuous targeting of activists and human rights defenders, whether in arrests or summonses by the security agencies.
Repeated accusations against detainees (March 2021 – March 2022)
Most of the interrogated persons were charged with “weapon possession”, and “raising/ collecting fund for illegal organizations”; in order to extend their detention before the court. There were 13 university students among the arrested persons and 5 journalists were arrested due to their activism and work in journalism You can view the electronic copy of the annual report (March 2021-March 2022), entitled ” Ongoing Crisis: The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” through the following link: https://lawyers4justice.ps/ongoing-crisis-the-systematic-nature-of-the-suppression-of-freedoms-in-the-west-bank/ #Ongoing_Crisis
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns in the strongest terms the non-compliance of the security agencies with court decisions
Yesterday, the Magistrate’s Court in Nablus issued a decision to release the political detainee, Riad Abu Al-Hassan, after his family fulfilled the personal guarantee procedures approved by the court as a precondition for his release. However, the Preventive Security refused to comply with the decision of the Magistrate Court in Nablus to release Abu Al-Hassan, and referred him to the Public Prosecution, under arrest pending a new file, as an attempt to cover up his arrest with a legal cover. Abu Al-Hassan was arrested on February 12, 2023 by the Preventive Security Service, two days after the home of his father, lawyer Faris Abu Al-Hassan, was stormed by tens of members of the Preventive Security Service in an attempt to arrest him. However, his absence from the house thwarted this first attempt, which did not carry with it any judicial orders allowing him to be arrested or his house searched. And accordingly; Lawyers for Justice condemns, in the strongest terms, the security services’ transgression of court decisions. Specifically in the cases of political detainees, and keeping the detainees in detention despite the issuance of judicial decisions to release them. Arrest them, and search their homes without legal basis. Therefore, the “Lawyers for Justice” group regrets the continuation of violations against detainees against the backdrop of political and partisan pluralism, especially the executive authority’s uniqueness in making decisions and implementing them according to its whims. … Lawyers for Justice February 23, 2023
Violating the right to physical and mental safety (March 2021- March 2022)
Regarding the testimonies, in violating the right to physical and mental safety, 85% of the cases followed up by the Group, reported that their right to physical and mental safety was violated. #ongoing_crisis
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
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
Ramallah Magistrate Court extends the detention of the political detainee Yaman Ba’irat.
Thursday, February 9, 2023, Ramallah Magistrate Court extended the detention of the political detainee Yaman Ba’irat for a period of 15 days, under the pretext of giving the Public Prosecution the opportunity to complete the investigation procedures. Ba’irat was charged with a charge usually used to justify the arrest of political detainees, It is worth noting that he was arrested on February 8, 2023 by the Preventive Security. … February 11, 2023 Lawyers for Justice
The public prosecution in Ramallah has extended the detention of the political detainee and released prisoner, Ahed Khaddour, for 48 hours.
Since yesterday, “Lawyers for Justice” group has followed up the arrest of the political detainee, Ahed Khaddour, after the preventive security summoned him to meet them, then detained him and brought him this morning before the public prosecution. The Public Prosecution accused Khaddour of political charges, then extended his detention for 48 hours under the pretext of completing the investigation procedures. Accordingly; “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns these political arrests of released prisoners and former political detainees like Khaddour, and calls on the public prosecution to immediately release him. … Lawyers for Justice January 24, 2023