Monday, March 26, 2012

Lawyer: Court rejects appeal for Hana Shalabi

March 26, 2012 Ma'an News Agency

A woman holds a placard depicting prisoner Hana Shalabi during a rally in
support of her hunger strike as well as calling for the release of Palestinian
prisoners held in Israeli jails, in front of Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City
March 24, 2012. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)

JENIN (Ma’an) -- Ofer military court on Sunday rejected a legal appeal for administrative detainee Hana Shalabi, a lawyer from the Prisoners Society said.

Jawad Bulus told Ma'an that a secretary from the Israeli military court informed him the judge rejected his appeal against Shalabi's detention without trial.

The judge, after reviewing Shalabi's case, said that there are grounds to continue holding her as she is a threat to Israel's security.

Bulus said that he will petition against the decision, which he described as unfair and oppressive. Prisoner Society director Qadura Fares said he was not surprised by the decision, as Israeli courts have never treated Palestinian prisoners fairly.

Shalabi, from the village of Burqin, is being held in "administrative detention," a category in the Israeli legal system which permits imprisoning suspects for six months at a time without charge.

On Thursday, Boulos said Shalabi was in a critical condition.

Bill ban Esveld, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, says Israel is violating Shalabi's rights.

"After previously imprisoning her without charge for more than two years, Israel is again violating Hana Shalabi's basic due process rights," van Esveld said. "If it lacks the evidence to charge her with any crime, as seems to be the case, it should release her immediately.

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