Dear
friends,
you will
probably have heard by now that Khader Adnan has ended his hunger strike after
his lawyer struck a deal with the Israeli state which met Khader's minimum
demands. I have included below the media release issued immediately after
the deal was struck. Also included below is Amnesty International's statement
calling for a blanket end to Administrative Detention. More than 300 Palestinian
political prisoners remain under Administrative Detention (ie. arbitary
detention without charge or trail) and while Khader's hunger strike has focused
world attention on Israel's brutal and illegal detention of Palestinians, the
struggle to free all Palestinian political prisoners and to end Israel's
occupation and apartheid practices continues.
In
solidarity, Kim
Footage of Khader Adnan in prison, while still on hunger strike.
***
Despite the Announcement of a Deal Limiting Khader Adnan’s Detention, Addameer Reiterates its Urgent Concern for His Health
Ramallah, 21 February 2012 – Khader Adnan’s
hearing at the Israeli High Court was cancelled today, 21 February
2012, only minutes before the hearing was to take place. On Khader’s 66th
day of hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention and
inhuman and degrading treatment by the Israeli authorities, one of
Khader’s lawyers negotiated a deal with the Israeli military prosecutor
that Khader will be released on 17 April instead of 8 May and that his
administrative detention order will not be renewed. Addameer lawyer
Samer Sam’an is actively working to gain permission to visit Khader to
confirm whether or not he will continue with his hunger strike.
Khader previously stated to Addameer lawyers that though he was
calling for his immediate and unconditional release, the minimum
requirements he would consider for ending his hunger strike would be the
guarantee that he would not receive a new administrative detention
order and that his duration of detention would be considered from the
date of his arrest on 17 December 2011 and not from the date that he
received his administrative detention order on 8 January 2012. The
provisions of the deal reached today as announced by the lawyer involved
do meet these minimum requirements. However, if new “secret material,”
upon which administrative detention is based, presents itself during the
next two months, there would still be grounds for the renewal of his
administrative detention order. This caveat is consistent with similar
deals made in the past, in which Israeli officials leave the door open
for re-arrests.
Addameer maintains that the fact that Israeli officials negotiated
the duration of his detention, in addition to agreeing to an early
release, reveals that there were no grounds for his administrative
detention in the first place. His administrative detention order, as in
the cases of all other administrative detainees, is based on the alleged
threat he poses to the “security of the State of Israel.” However, if
Israeli officials agree that he will not be a threat on 17 April, as
clear from today’s deal, he surely does not pose any threat today and
his case provides further proof of Israel’s policy of arbitrary
detention. Addameer reiterates its call for his immediate and
unconditional release and the release of the 308 other administrative
detainees.
Addameer’s main concern remains Khader’s health, in critical condition after over two months of hunger strike.
Whether or not Khader continues his hunger strike, he must receive
proper arrangements for observing his health condition, which will
likely now have irreversible consequences. If he does decide to end his
hunger strike, the potential complications from such a protracted hunger
strike will require urgent and trusted care, which can only be provided
if he is released.
Addameer continues to salute Khader Adnan for his incredible
steadfastness in challenging Israel’s policy of holding Palestinians in
detention without charge or trial, which is in violation of
international law. Addameer further thanks all individuals and
institutions who have chosen not to ignore the basic human rights
violations being committed against Palestinian prisoners on a daily
basis and who have expressed their explicit support for Khader and his
fellow prisoners. The date set for Khader’s release, 17 April,
ironically falls on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, which will serve as a
reminder of the thousands of other Palestinian political prisoners who
remain in Israeli detention.
Follow Addameer’s campaigns to release all Prisoners at Risk and immediately Stop Administrative Detention.
***
17 February 2012
Khader Adnan's hunger strike has prompted demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Palestinian
activist Khader Adnan has been on hunger strike since 18 December 2011
in protest against his detention by the Israeli authorities without
charge or trial.
Khader Adnan started his hunger strike the day following his arrest from his home in the occupied West Bank to protest his ill-treatment by the Israel Security Agency (ISA).
On
10 January 2012 he was given a four-month administrative detention
order signed by a military commander. It ends on 8 May but could be
renewed indefinitely.
Khader
Adnan is now in a hospital in northern Israel. After more than 60 days
on hunger strike, doctors warn that his life is in imminent danger. He
is still under detention and is shackled to his hospital bed at all
times and under constant armed guard.
Administrative detention is a
procedure under which detainees are held without charge or trial for
periods of up to six months, which can be renewed repeatedly. Under administrative detention, detainees' rights to a fair trial as guaranteed by Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are consistently violated.
Khader
Adnan is one of 309 Palestinians currently held in administrative
detention by the Israeli authorities, including one man held for over
five years and 24 Palestinian Legislative Council members. Hundreds of
other Palestinian detainees and prisoners have joined Khader Adnan's
hunger strike.
Take Action
Support Palestinian activist Khader Adnan’s protest for respect for the human rights of Palestinians in Israeli detention. Call on the Israeli Minister of Defence to:
- Immediately release Khader Adnan and other Palestinians held in administrative detention, or immediately charge and try them for internationally recognizable criminal offences in full conformity with international fair trial standards;
- End the use of administrative detention, which violates the right to a fair trial;
- Ensure that detainees are treated humanely at all times, and that no detainees are punished for their decision to go on hunger strike.
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