Within the framework of the “Lawyers for Justice” group follow-up of the human rights and legal situation since the beginning of this week in the courts and prosecution offices of the West Bank; The group notes an increase in the number of arbitrary arrests by Palestinian security forces in the occupied West Bank.
Since the beginning of this week, the “Lawyers for Justice” group has followed up on 22 detainees who were arbitrarily arrested by the Palestinian security services, specifically the Preventive Security Service and the General Intelligence. It was distributed among the citizens who were arrested during this week and others from the previous weeks. Five of the above-mentioned citizens were arrested on the basis of their participation in the funeral of the martyr Abdel Fattah Kharousha, and another by order of the governor of Tulkarm. Today, the group obtained four decisions to release four of the above-mentioned detainees, in addition to two decisions yesterday in favor of two others. The group notes that the security services and the judiciary exploited the lawyers’ strike period for the purpose of arbitrary arrest of citizens, as well as extending their detention in the absence of a defense lawyer, which detracts from their right to a fair trial. … Lawyers for Justice March 15, 2023 To follow the news of the detainees, you can join Lawyers for Justice community via
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, “Lawyers for Justice” group launches an urgent appeal to stop the prosecution of activist Dr. Zahra Khdrouj.
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the repeated and almost daily summons carried out by the Palestinian security agencies against the feminist and political activist, Dr. Zahra Khdrouj, and the executive director of the Asfour Cultural Center. According to the activist Khdrouj; The campaign of continuous harassment against her by the Palestinian Authority security services began, since last June, three weeks after the opening of the Asfour Cultural Center, registered with the Ministry of National Economy, which began with being summoned by the Preventive Security Service in Qalqilya, and interrogated about the center’s cultural, national and political activities that usually target children and youth. The activist Khdrouj added; After her appearance before the Preventive Security Service for the first time, the summons that the Palestinian security services carried out against her were repeated, and it became almost daily. However, she refused to appear after the first time, and after that the harassment varied to include inciting the guests of the center not to attend its activities, in addition to issuing a decision to seize the on her bank accounts last August. In the same context, the harassment of the activist Khdrouj was not limited to the harassment of the Palestinian security services only, but also extended to violations and harassment by the occupation, to prevent her from traveling, and entering the occupied territories. Therefore, in conjunction with International Women’s Day; The “Lawyers for Justice” group launched an urgent appeal to stop the prosecution of activist Dr. Khdrouj, and calls on all local and international institutions to put pressure on the Palestinian Authority to stop pursuing her, and to enable her to complete her activities. … Lawyers for Justice March 10, 2023
The General Intelligence releases a witness to martyr Nizar Banat assassination.
Today, March 5, 2023, the Public Prosecution issued a decision to release the political activist, the cousin of the martyr Nizar Banat, and one of the witnesses to his assassination, Ammar Banat. Forces from the General Intelligence arrested the political activist, Ammar Banat, from his workplace in Hebron, Thursday, March 2, 2023. This is not the first time he has been arrested, but his arrest has been repeated since the assassination of the martyr Nizar Banat to pressure him not to testify before the Special Military Court at first, and to express his opinion in the case of the assassination of Nizar Banat and other public issues. … Lawyers for Justice March 5, 2023
The Ramallah Magistrate Court extends the arrest of the journalist and student, Moath Washaha
Ramallah Magistrate Court extended the arrest of journalist Moath Washaha on March 2, 2023, for a period of 7 days. The General Intelligence Service in Ramallah arrested journalist Washaha after he responded to a summons at the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The “Lawyers for Justice” group indicates that the arrest of student and journalist Washa comes within the framework of fighting the freedom of journalistic work, and that the malicious accusations against him aim to legitimize the false arrest. #Ongoing_Crisis … Lawyers for Justice March 5, 2023
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the continued campaign of arrests by the security agencies against citizens and political activist
#statement #Suppression_of_freedoms The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the continued campaign of arrests by the security agencies against citizens and political activists, which has increased since the beginning of this year. The group indicates that, since the beginning of the year, it has monitored the arrest and summons of tens of citizens as part of the policy of suppressing freedoms, which has taken a dangerous turn since the summer of 2021, following the assassination of the political activist, Nizar Banat. The group notes that the policy of suppressing freedoms clearly extends to public rights and freedoms, including freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of political affiliation, which are constitutional rights that must be respected and preserved. In this context, the group condemns what the security forces have done since the day before yesterday by suppressing the press conference that was supposed to be hosted by the Watan Agency, and preventing it from taking place. In addition to the arrest of student and journalist Moath Washaha by the Palestinian General Intelligence in Ramallah. The group also condemns the arrest of political activist Ammar Banat yesterday by the security agencies who do not wear military uniforms, without presenting an arrest warrant that would allow them to arrest Banat. Due to the inability of lawyers to represent citizens arbitrarily detained outside the scope of the law before the Public Prosecution and the courts due to the strike of the Bar Association, the group refers to the “use of the right of silence” that allows every detainee not to answer any questions during interrogation before the Public Prosecution The group also confirms the illegality of any interrogation or investigation carried out by the security agencies, as it is a non-competent body and has no authority to investigate or arrest without an official arrest warrant. Accordingly, the group calls for the immediate release of all detainees in all cities, respect for judicial rulings, and an end to the policy of suppressing freedoms. Lawyers for Justice March, 3 2023
“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
Arrests due to practicing right to peaceful assembly (March 2021- March 2022)
The Group had followed up 63 cases arrested due to practicing their right to peaceful assembly (35.1% of the arrested cases during the given period) 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…/ #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