The Jerusalem District Court has reinstated a previous prison sentence from 2005 for Addameer’s Palestinian-French field researcher and human rights defender Salah Hamouri’s, who was issued a six months administrative detention order on August 29, 2017.
During the order’s confirmation hearing last Thursday, August 31, the judge decided to replace the administrative detention order with a three-month jail sentence, representing the time that was left for Hamouri to serve prior to his release as part of the Gilad Shalit – Wafa Al Ahrar exchange deal. At that time, Hamouri was originally set to be released on March 13, 2012, but instead, was set free on December 18, 2011 as part of the exchange.
Salah Hamouri at the Fête de l’Humanité Communist daily newspaper near Paris in 2012 (Photo: Pierre Pytkowicz)
Addameer attorney representing Hamouri, Mahmoud Hassan noted that neither the state prosecution nor the Israel’s intelligence service were in favor of the judge’s decision and that they will be filing an appeal. Addameer believes that this opposition by Israel authorities to the judge’s decision demonstrates that it was taken in response to the international pressure and campaigns calling for the immediate release of Hamouri. Consequently, Israel’s reinstatement of the sentence represents a disingenuous attempt at legitimizing Hamouri’s detainment.
Attorney Hassan emphasized that the judge’s decision would not preclude his client from still being placed under administrative detention once he completes serving the rest of his previous sentence.
Addameer once again stressed that Salah’s arrest and subsequent detainment represent an egregious attack by the Israeli occupation against the work of human rights defenders in Palestine.
Related:
- Field Researcher Salah Hamouri Seized by Occupation Forces
- Israel Sentences Salah Hamouri to Detention without Charge or Trial
Sign this petition directed to French president Emanuel Macron and European officials demanding that they act now for the immediate release of political prisoner Salah Hamouri.
