Launch of The Second Shadow Report on Systematic Violations of Civil and Political Rights Against Palestinian Bedouin Communities in Area C (2025–2026)
Lawyers for Justice, in collaboration with the “Al-Baidar” Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, announces the release of its human rights report (Shadow Report) submitted to the Human Rights Committee, entitled: “Systematic Violations of Civil and Political Rights Against Palestinian Bedouin Communities in Area C” The report covers the period of 2025–2026 and focuses on the human rights situation in Area C of the West Bank. it highlights systematic policies that infringe upon the core of civil and political rights, including the right to life, housing, freedom of movement, and equality before the law. Key Pillars of the Report: Conclusion and Recommendations The report presents a set of recommendations directed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, most notably: Lawyers for Justice calls upon international bodies, human rights institutions, and policymakers to adopt the findings and recommendations of this report. We urge serious action to ensure respect for the civil and political rights of Palestinian Bedouin communities and to end the ongoing violations against them, in accordance with international law. Lawyers for Justice Ramallah – 2026
Launch of Shadow Report on the Systematic Erasure and Forcible Displacement of Palestinian Bedouin Communities in the West Bank (2025–2026)
Lawyers for Justice, in cooperation with “Al-Baidar” Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, announces the release of a new shadow report entitled: “The Systematic and Structural Erasure of Palestinian Bedouin Communities in the West Bank” The report covers the period between 2025–2026 and highlights the systematic policies and gross violations targeting Bedouin communities in Area C of the West Bank. It frames these actions within a colonial framework aimed at undermining the foundations of their survival and imposing coercive conditions to drive their displacement. The report is structured around four primary pillars: Conclusion and Recommendations The report concludes that the continuation of these policies aims to reconfigure the geographical landscape in favor of settlement expansion at the expense of the indigenous Palestinian population. It provides urgent recommendations to the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling for: Lawyers for Justice and Al-Baidar Organization call upon all human rights institutions, official bodies, and international entities to adopt the findings of this report and work seriously to end the policies of erasure and displacement, supporting the resilience of Bedouin communities on their land in accordance with the principles of justice and international law. Lawyers for Justice Ramallah – 2026
Statement Issued by “Lawyers for Justice” Regarding the Summons of Union Activist Jihad Abu Sharar for Investigation Before the Public Prosecution
Lawyers for Justice is following with grave concern the measures taken against union activist and teacher Jihad Taha Abu Sharar, which infringe upon her constitutional and legal rights most notably her summons to appear before the Public Prosecution in Dura on Thursday, April 2, 2026. According to statements by Ms. Abu Sharar, she was previously subjected to a forced retirement penalty in 2024 due to her union activities. The Administrative Court subsequently ruled in her favor in December 2025, issuing a final and binding decision for her reinstatement. This ruling represented a victory for the rule of law and the mandatory implementation of judicial verdicts. However, the Minister of Education’s decision to re-impose the same penalty and issue a new decree confirming its continuation constitutes a blatant violation of an enforceable judicial ruling. This serves as an unacceptable evasion of the judiciary’s authority and has resulted in serious humanitarian consequences, including the termination of her health insurance. The summoning of Jihad Abu Sharar for investigation in this context raises serious concerns that it is an extension of restrictive measures aimed at her legitimate exercise of union activity a right guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international conventions. Accordingly, “Lawyers for Justice” emphasizes the following: The group further appeals to His Excellency the Attorney General to intervene immediately to halt any prosecution against teacher Jihad Abu Sharar regarding her union activity and to ensure that the instruments of justice are not used as a means of pressure or harassment. The group asserts that the targeting of Jihad Abu Sharar stems from her role in defending the rights of Palestinian teachers. This follows a troubling pattern where several of her colleagues were previously referred for investigation before committees at the Ministry of Education. We stress that official authorities must commit to respecting union work and safeguarding freedoms foremost among them the freedom of opinion and expression in alignment with the international treaties signed by the State of Palestine. Issued on: March 31, 2026 Lawyers for Justice Group
Statement Issued by “Lawyers for Justice”On the Continued Detention of Journalist and Activist Su’ad Al-Khawaaja Despite Four Judicial Release Orders
Lawyers for Justice is following with deep concern the continued detention of journalist and activist Su’ad Al-Khawaaja by the police in Ramallah, after she was summoned last Tuesday, despite the issuance of four separate judicial release orders and the payment of all required bail amounts. Her continued detention in defiance of these court decisions constitutes—based on our monitoring—a serious violation of personal liberty and a clear departure from the legal framework that guarantees rights and due process. The group views this ongoing detention without any legal basis as a troubling indication of an arbitrary misuse of authority, which necessitates immediate action by the Public Prosecutor to investigate the circumstances and reasons behind this detention, and to ensure that such practices— which violate Palestinian law and binding international standards—are not repeated. Accordingly, Lawyers for Justice issues an urgent call to the esteemed Public Prosecutor, as well as to local and international human rights organizations, to take swift action and exert pressure to uphold the rule of law and secure the immediate release of journalist Su’ad Al-Khawaaja. The group also stresses that the detained journalist is a mother of two children, a fact that exacerbates the humanitarian and social consequences of her continued detention. The group further reminds the authorities of their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly those related to the right to liberty and personal security, and the prohibition of arbitrary arrest or detention. End Lawyers for Justice17 November 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
Lawyers for Justice Group obtained acquittal by Qalqiliya Magistrates’ Court
On Sunday, 10-11-2024, Lawyers for Justice Group obtained an acquittal merit issued by the Qalqilya Magistrate’s Court against citizen Roaa Rimzeq. She was charged of the authority contrary to article 45 of the Cybercrime Act No. 10 of 2018. Citizen Rizmeq was prosecuted by the Cybercrime Unit of the Police Service in early April 2024 on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Ministry of Education concerning the citizenship of Rizmik against a publication criticizing the Ministry, before being referred for investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office of Qalqilya on 26-8-2024. The Group appreciates the decision of the Qalqilya Magistrates’ Court to issue the acquittal in terms of the outcome. It calls for a comprehensive review of the Cybercrime Law No. 10 of 2018 to amend its articles to ensure and guarantee freedom of opinion and expression without restriction and to prevent the continued prosecution of citizens in the exercise of their constitutional rights under the Palestinian Constitutional Law. Till here, Issued in 11-11-2024. Lawyers for Justice.
Press release: Nomination of human rights activist Diala Ayesh for the award of Index of Censorship – Freedom of Expression Awards.
Lawyers for justice group is proudly announcing the nominations of our collogue Diala Ayesh for the award of Index of Censorship – Freedom of Expression Awards. For her role in advocacy for the freedom and fair treatment of political prisoners. She has faced arrest, threats, and harassment from both the Israeli occupation forces and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Since 2018, Diala has monitored the suppression, arrest, or persecution of those exercising their human rights and also represented many of those who have been targeted. This includes those arrested during peaceful gatherings or protests and cultural institutions, such as Ashtar Theater, which faced severe suppression during a march in Ramallah in July 2022. Diala has also provided advice to women journalists who faced persecution by Palestinian security agencies and supported the advocacy campaign calling for the release of arrested university students. Following the Hamas 7 October attacks and Israel’s retaliation in Gaza, Diala had continued her work providing legal advice and visiting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. On 17 January 2024, Israeli military forces arrested Diala Ayesh as she passed through a military checkpoint in the West Bank. On 25 January, she was issued with a four-month administrative detention order by the Israeli military’s Central Command for the occupied West Bank. It has been reported that the order was given without any charge or trial, and she did not appear before a court. This administrative detention order did not include any specific charges. The military court upheld this order, extending it for another four months until 17 May. It was subsequently renewed for an additional four months. According to her lawyers, Diala was subjected to assault, threats, and insults by Israeli soldiers during her arrest. During the first week of her arrest, Diala Ayesh was denied access to her lawyer and any phone calls. Her lawyer could only see her once on 23 January 2024. Since her arrest, her family has not heard from her, and they are not allowed to call or visit her. We wish our colleague all the best and hope for her winning the award for her dedicated work and her beliefs. Till here, Issued in 4-11-2024. Lawyers for Justice.
Israeli military court in Ofer holds appeal hearing on the administrative decision to arrest human rights defender Diala Ayesh.
An appeal hearing was held today Thursday 16/5/2024, at the Military Occupation Court-Ofer of the prisoner of occupation, lawyer and human rights defender Diala Ayesh, to ascertain her previous four-month administrative arrest warrant, which expires by tomorrow Friday 17/5/2024, unless a new administrative arrest warrant is issued against her. The occupation army arrested lawyer Ayesh at the military checkpoint called Container in the south of the occupied West Bank on 17-1-2024 before referring her to administrative detention for four months. The prisoner suffers from poor conditions of detention as other prisoners and detainees in Israeli occupation prisons, particularly prisoners who got arrested during the war and aggression against the Gaza Strip and the cities of the occupied West Bank following October 7, 2023, in the context of war and aggression against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Prisoners of the Gaza Strip, which reports on the death of approximately 20 prisoners since the beginning of the war, Other than Gaza prisoners deprived of all kinds of legal representation before military courts or visits by lawyers or know the fate of those who were alive or martyred during or after the arrest. Prisoner Ayesh, who has been in Damon prison for four months, spoke during today’s session about the conditions of her detention, which reflect the situation of Palestinian women prisoners in occupation prisons; This reflects the deterioration of living conditions inside the prison, the reduction of the break at the prison, the reduction of food and the accumulation of detainees in each room, forcing four women prisoners inside her room to sleep on the floor. And the lack of clothes and covers, the lack of basic needs for women prisoners, as well as the poor handling during counting prisoners that is more frequent per day than before the war, In addition to the limited visits of lawyers, the continued deprivation of purchasing of needs from the Cafeteria (prison cafeteria). Lawyers for Justice fears of any renewal of the administrative detention of lawyer and human rights defender Diala Ayesh particularly with the expiration of the current order tomorrow, Friday 17.5.2024, and without a verdict on the appeal at today’s hearing The Group notes that all detainees under administrative detention are arbitrarily detained without any charges, on the basis of the Mandatory Emergency Law, which is contrary to all guarantees of a fair trial and is also totally incompatible with the right to self-determination. Till here, Lawyer for Justice Issued in 16/5/2024.
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
“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.