PLC member Khalida Jarrar receives six months administrative detention order

Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar, who was arrested in a pre-dawn raid by Israeli occupation forces on 2 July 2017, received a six months administrative detention order, signed by the occupation military commander of the West Bank today, 12 July 2017. A confirmation hearing will be held at Ofer military court on 17 July 2017. 

Khalida Jarrar, a civil society leader, has been a Palestinian Legislative Council Member since 2006, is head of the Prisoners' Commission in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and a member of the Board of Directors of Addameer Prisoner Support.

Khalida Jarrar has been targeted by Israeli forces in recent years. She was released from prison in June 2016 after serving over a year in prison, including one-month under administrative detention.  

Addameer calls for the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar, as her detention constitutes an attack against Palestinian civil society leaders.

In the occupied Palestinian West Bank, the Israeli army is authorized to issue administrative detention orders against Palestinian civilians on the basis of Military Order 1651. This order empowers military commanders to detain an individual for up to six-month renewable periods if they have “reasonable grounds to presume that the security of the area or public security requires the detention.” On or just before the expiry date, the detention order is frequently renewed. This process can be continued indefinitely.
 
This practice of arbitrary detention is a grave violation of international laws and human rights standards, particularly articles 78 and 72 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which state that an accused individual has the right to defend himself. This also violates Article 66 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the basic standards of fair trial. Currently, over 500 Palestinians are placed under administrative detention without charge or trial.