A position issued by the Lawyers for Justice group on the security services’ suppression of the demonstration demanding the release of political detainees
Lawyers for Justice followed with great concern the events in Nablus, the suppression of the Palestinian security services to the demonstration, demanding the release of political detainees, the arrest of some demonstrators, firing gas bombs at them, as well as the assault on journalists while they were covering this demonstration. The group monitored the practice of the security forces as a suppression of freedom of opinion and expression, which contravenes 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 and publish his opinion verbally, in writing, or by other means of expression or art taking into account the provisions of the law.” It also contravenes Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: “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” Lawyers for Justice also condemns the continuation of political arrests, and the assault on journalists while carrying out their duties and conveying the truth to citizens. Accordingly; Lawyers for Justice group asserts that the repression of any peaceful demonstration is an assault on a constitutional right, and an explicit violation of the Palestinian basic law that guarantees public freedoms for citizens within the scope of the law, and renews the call to guarantee freedom of opinion and expression, and guarantee freedom of affiliation, work and political participation which guaranteed by the basic law, And human rights agreements to which the Palestinian Authority committed itself. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023
The Nablus Magistrate Court decided to release the political detainee, Mamoun Dweikat
Today, the Nablus Magistrate Court decided to release the political detainee, Mamoun Dweikat, on a personal guarantee of 5,000 Jordanian dinars; it is noteworthy that Dweikat has been detained by the Preventive Security since January 5, 2023, after he was summoned for an interview with them. The Public Prosecution charged Dwaikat with a political charge, which political detainees are usually charged with to justify their arrest. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023
Despite the allegations of torture raised by the political detainee, Mazyid Saqf Al-Hait; Nablus Magistrate Court extends his detention for five days
The Nablus Magistrate Court extended the detention of the political activist and critic of the Palestinian Authority, Mazyid Saqf Al-Hait, for a period of five days. The Preventive Security in Nablus had arrested Saqf Al-Hait on January 7, after his arrest, the Preventive Security stormed his house and searched his belongings. Today, Saqf Al-Hait told the court, in the presence of Lawyers for Justice, that he was beaten and ill-treated during his arrest and during his detention at the Preventive Security Service, but the court extended his detention under the pretext of the seriousness of the charge to the public order and security. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice is deeply concerned about the continued detention of the activist Saqfi al-Hait, which may be a prelude to the Preventive Security forces continuing to torture him. … Lawyers for Justice January 10, 2023
A decision to release the political detainee, Salama Abdel-Jawad
The Nablus Magistrate Court issued a decision to release the political detainee, Salama Abdel-Jawad, on a commercial warranty of 2000 Jordanian dinars. The Preventive Security had arrested Salama Abdel-Jawad on December 29, 2022, and referred his case to the Public Prosecution, which charged him with political charges. During his detention, Salama Abdel-Gawad was subjected to torture and ill-treatment by members of the Preventive Security. … Lawyers for Justice January 9, 2023 To follow the news of the detainees, you can join Lawyers for Justice community via WhatsApp through the following link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CuJR94yuhGp6Tdod1K6Mpi
Ramallah Magistrate Court issues a decision extending the detention of political detainee Basil Flayan
The Magistrate Court in Ramallah issued a decision to extend the detention of the political detainee, Basil Flayan, for a period of fifteen days, and the court’s decision came despite hearing allegations of torture against the detainee, Flayan, which was represented by crucifixion, beating with hoses, and other subjects The court and “Lawyers for Justice” lawyers were able to see signs of torture at the hands of Flyan. Accordingly, “Lawyers for Justice” holds the General Intelligence Service fully responsible for the life of the detainee Flayan, in light of the allegations of torture that they heard and saw its effects. … Lawyers for Justice January 9, 2023
Today,”Lawyers for Justice” group obtained an acquittal of the former political detainee Moamen Dawood (Nofal) from the Magistrates Court in Qalqilya.
Lawyers for Justice has followed up the case of former political detainee Moamen Dawood since his arrest, as the Preventive Security in Qalqilya arrested him on 6.11.2022, until he was released by a decision of the Qalqilya Magistrate Court on a personal guarantee of one thousand Jordanian dinars on 11/20/2022. During his detention, Dawood suffered from health problems and suffocation as a result of being thrown into the dungeon of the Preventive Security in Qalqilya. Despite the health problems he suffered as a result of his arrest, the Preventive Security continued to interrogate him about his opinions posted on social media. However, when the Preventive Security referred his case to the Public Prosecution, it sent an investigation report that he was in possession of weapons, which contradicts the actual investigation they are conducting with him, this is for the purposes of persuading the Public Prosecution and the competent court to arrest him legally, considering the charge of possession of a weapon dangerous to public order and security, unlike posting opinions on social media, which are not considered a threat to security and public order. As the Palestinian security services always use such political charges to justify the arrest of political detainees, and accordingly; The result in these cases is either that they be preserved before being referred to the competent court, or that the detainee obtains an acquittal after referring his case to the court, as in the case of Dawood. Accordingly, the “Lawyers for Justice” group calls on all human rights institutions, local and international, to address the Office of the Attorney General and the Supreme Judicial Council, not to receive such cases in which the security services distort the reality of the actual investigation. … Lawyers for Justice January 9, 2023 To follow the news of the detainees, you can join Lawyers for Justice community via WhatsApp through the following link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CuJR94yuhGp6Tdod1K6Mpi
Lawyers For Justice is following with great concern the arrest of Basil Flayan, by the general intelligence service
On December 13, 2022, members of the general intelligence service arrested the two brothers, Basil and Baha Falayan, from the village of Burhan, in the district of Ramallah, this arrest came as part of a massive campaign of arrests launched by the Palestinian security services from the end of November until the end of December 2022, against the backdrop of political and partisan pluralism. Following their arrest, Bahaa was released and Basil was kept in administrative detention without going through the legal procedures followed and stipulated in the applicable criminal procedure Code.On 22.12.2022, Basil was transferred to the public prosecution and then to the Ramallah magistrate court, which extended his detention under the pretext of completing the investigation, and still rejects all requests for release on bail submitted to it.Basil’s file lacks the guarantees of a fair trial, which was represented by administrative detention without referral to the public prosecution, or knowing the charges against him, and then referring him to the public prosecution nine days after his arrest.Lawyers for Justice is deeply concerned about this type of detention, which violates the content of the Palestinian Basic Law, especially Articles (5, 9, and 19) thereof, and the agreements and treaties to which the State of Palestine has acceded, as well as the denial of fair trial guarantees.…Lawyers for Justice4, January 2023
Lawyers for Justice documented allegations of torture made by the political detainee Islam Bani Shamsa from Nablus
Today, Thursday, Sept 15, 2022, Lawyers for Justice group followed a court session for the young man Islam Bani Shamsa from Nablus, in which the Nablus Magistrate’s Court decided to extend his detention for 15 days pending investigation. The lawyer group reported that marks of a longitudinal bruise appeared on his neck from the left side, which the court examined during the session.Bani Shamsa also reported that he was beaten on the head and back, which prompted the court to request that he be referred to medical services. According to his family, the detainee, Bani Shamsa, was beaten during the process of his arrest by the General Intelligence Service in the city of Nablus, on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, and the detainee himself told the group’s lawyer that he is on hunger strike. For its part, the Public Prosecution has charged the detainee, Bani Shamsa, with three charges before the judiciary, to justify the extension of his detention, and these charges are used as a legal justification for the arrest process, while he is being investigated on a political background. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice is calling for the urgent intervention of the immediate release of the political prisoner Bani Shamsa, whose signs of torture and ill-treatment clearly appeared before the court today, and to guarantee his health, safety, and life while continuing his hunger strike. The group also calls for the need to hold accountable those who assaulted Bani Shamsa, as guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and the international human rights agreements to which Palestine has acceded, including the Anti-Torture Protocol to which the Palestinian Authority joined in 2017, and which the Palestinian President considered the main reference for the work of the National Anti-Torture Authority in accordance with Article (18) of Decree-Law No (25) 2022.
Allegations of torture made by political detainee Abdel-Wahhab Hamad
Lawyers for Justice denounces that the detainee Abd al-Wahhab Hamad, 21 years, from Nablus, was tortured during his detention at the Preventive Security forces, according to what he told the group’s lawyer today, Thursday, August 11, 2022. According to Hamad, he suffered a work injury in the shoulder before he got arrest. He was deliberately beaten on the place of injury, neck and head, during interrogation against a political background. During today’s court session, the Nablus Magistrate’s Court issued a decision to extend Hamad’s detention for 10 days, on the grounds of a political charge, at the request of the Public Prosecution to complete the investigation. The Preventive Security forces arrested Hamad on August 9, 2022, from his home after 1:30 at night. Lawyers for Justice is concerned about the allegations of torture made by Abdel Wahab Hamad, expresses its deep concern for his health, safety and security, makes an urgent appeal for his immediate release, and the accountability of those who beat him, and those who violated the Palestinian Basic Law and Human Rights in dealing with Hamad and the detainees Politicians with whom the group has previously documented allegations of torture.
New violations: more than 10 decisions to extend the detention of activists
Today, Sunday, July 24, 2022, the Jericho Court of First Instance extended the detention of fellow trainee lawyer Ahmed Al-Khasib, Jihad Wahdan, and Alaa Ghanem for 45 days, at the request of the Public Prosecution, and against a political background. The political detainees concluded last week with a series of extensions of their detention at the request of the Public Prosecution. The extension decisions followed up by Lawyers for Justice were as follows: – The Jericho Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Birzeit University student Qassam Hamayel for 15 days, due to his student activity. – The Ramallah Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Muhammad Mahmoud Sheikh, Muhammad Suleiman, Islam Arar, Anas Sahweil and Mahdi al-Rimawi for 15 days on a political ground. – The Jericho Court of First Instance extended the detention of Ahmed Harish and Munther Raheeb for 45 days on a political ground. – Ramallah Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Muhammad Farouk Khaled for 7 days on a political ground.– The Jericho Magistrate’s Court extended Moath Saleh’s detention for 15 days. A Lawyers for Justice confirms that the charges attached to the detainees are politically motivated charges, far from any legal evidence, which was confirmed by the nature of the interrogation with the detainees, which takes a political turn. Lawyers for Justice condemns the continued detention of activists, human rights defenders, and citizens, some of whom will be close to two months after their arrest, without regard to public freedoms and the Palestinian Basic Law. The Lawyers for Justice group calls for all to stand as civil society institutions, human rights defenders and journalists, to move for the release of all detainees, and to stop the series of political arrests, which have escalated in the recent period.