Update 31 (13 January 2010, 6.30 pm)

great news:

BOTH JAMAL AND MOHAMMAD HAVE BEEN RELEASED!!!

Jamal was released yesterday and Mohammad just half an hour ago – at 6 pm. They are currently busy giving interviews and reuniting with friends and family.

Here two articles on Jamal’s release:

WARONWANT

PALESTINE MONITOR

Update 30 (9 January 2010)

On 6 January 2010,  military judge Rafael Yamini ordered Mohammad’s detention order to be shortened until 12 January 2010. The judge cited security concerns as justification for Mohammad’s continued administrative detention stating that Mohammad still poses a danger to the security of the area and the public,  but, contradictorily, reduced the detention order by 10 days. In the justification of his decision to reduce the length of Mohammad’s administrative detention, the military judge stated that there has been no serious development in the investigation into Mohammad’s case and therefore his prolonged detention could not be justified. This is in direct contravention to international law, which stipulates that administrative detention is permissible only if “the security of the state … make it absolutely necessary” and only in accordance with “regular procedure”. Administrative detention should never be used as a substitute for criminal prosecution where there is insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction.  Lastly, the judge did not impose any restrictions on the military prosecutors regarding any need for additional evidence to renew this order upon its expiration. Mohammad’s administrative detention order could be once again renewed.

Update 29 (8 Jan. 2010): Press Release Amnesty International

Amnesty International: ‘Israeli detention of Palestinian activists must end’

8 January 2010

The Israeli authorities must immediately release, or bring before a fair trial, three Palestinian human rights activists detained in Israel following their protests against the construction of the West Bank fence/wall, Amnesty International said on Friday.

In a letter sent to Ehud Barak, Israeli Defence and Deputy Prime Minister on Thursday, Amnesty International expressed concern that Jamal Juma’, Abdallah Abu Rahma and Mohammed Othman were prisoners of conscience, held for legitimately voicing their opposition to the fence/wall…READ MORE

You can join Amnesty’s call on Israel to release Jamal, Abdallah and Mohammad. Go here

 

30 dec. 09: statement by Palestinian human rights org’s: ‘Stop The Wall campaign targeted’

 Stop the Wall Campaign Targeted: Israel Continues to Violate the Rights of Human Rights Defenders and Peaceful Activists.

Addameer * Al-Haq * Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights*
Al Dameer Association for Human Rights * BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
DCI – Palestine Section * ENSAN Center * Jerusalem Legal Aid Center * Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling

Ramallah, 30 December 2009 

 Israel has for too long been allowed to violate the rights of human rights defenders and activists. As an occupying power and State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Israel is obliged to respect the rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) as guaranteed under the ICCPR. Palestinian human rights defenders must be guaranteed their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and their right to liberty and security of person.Since September 2009, Israel has intensified a repression campaign against Palestinian human rights defenders, activists and demonstrators protesting against the Annexation Wall. As part of their repression campaign, which coincided with the release of the Goldstone Report, the Israeli forces have re-launched daily dawn raids in villages affected by the Wall, arresting youths and children, for the purpose of extracting confessions about prominent community leaders advocating against the Wall, and continued to intimidate activists by destroying their private property and threatening them with detention. Finally, Israel has directly targeted the Grassroots “Stop the Wall” Campaign by arresting and intimidating its leaders….read more