23 Jerusalemites under administrative arrest
The occupation authorities turned to the policy of administrative arrests which is based on weak confidential evidence and intelligence information to detain a person and shut the hopes of defending him in the Israeli courts. The administrative arrest orders recently increased against Jerusalemites in an attempt to slow down the Palestinians’ rise and break their steadfastness party of the policy of collective punishment practiced against Jerusalemites. Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that the occupation authorities transferred 23 Jerusalemites including three minors to administrative arrest during one week following an order from the Minister of Occupation Army. The center added that the Jerusalemite young men who were transferred to administrative arrest are from the village of Esawyeh, Silwan, Old City of Jerusalem, Sur Baher and Jabal Al-Mukabber; note that freed prisoners are among them. The center also pointed out that transferring several prisoners to administrative arrest falls within the collective punishment policy recently practiced against Jerusalemites. Abdel Salam Abu Ghazaleh, father of Martyr Thaer Abu Ghazaleh, was transferred to administrative arrest while his son’s body is still being detained who passed away on the 8th of the current month in Tel Aviv after being shot under the pretext of carrying out a stabbing attack. Also, the brother of prisoner Shurouq Dwayyat was also transferred to administrative arrest. Shurouq was accused of attempting to stab a settler in the Old City of Jerusalem on the 7th of October and was injured in her shoulder; she underwent a surgery and is currently imprisoned in Hasharon prison. Lawyer Mohammad Mahmoud explained that the “administrative arrest” law was implemented during the British Mandate in the Palestinian lands and the occupation authorities are currently implementing this law against Palestinians following the orders of the Minister of Occupation Army when a Palestinian is arrested and the evidence against him aren’t enough to submit an indictment against him. The lawyer added that arrested any person is based on intelligence information or testimonies by others or both combined but the evidence is weak and isn’t enough to submit an indictment. If the indictment gets submitted, the judge will decide to acquit the detainee and release him; that’s why the administrative arrest law us used. Lawyer Mahmoud also explained that the public prosecution claims that the case is confidential to prevent the lawyer from defending the detainee or even looking at his file. Administrative arrest is imposed without any charges or trial and is based on “confidential” evidence that can’t be revealed to maintain the safety of the information’s sources. He added: “After the Minister of Occupation Army issues the decision of administrative arrest, the public prosecution submits a request to the District Court within 48 hours to confirm the decision. The possibility of rejecting the request by the court is very minimal.” The lawyer explained that a group of young Jerusalemite men were transferred last year to administrative arrest while more than 20 Jerusalemites were transferred to administrative arrest for periods between 3 and 6 months during the last few days; note that the periods are renewable.
