The Israeli Supreme court decided on Tuesday to uphold a decision to ban Palestinian human rights defender, Shawan Jabarin, from travelling to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to receive the Geuzenpenning Award.

Further Information

Shawan Jabarin, is the West Bank Director of the Al Haq Human Rights Organisation.

He was supposed to travel to Holland to receive a prize known as “Geuzenpenning” on behalf of Al Haq. Spokeswoman of the Israeli Court, Ayelet Filo, claimed that the peace activist is “involved with terror groups”. She added that the court claims it has a “real evidence” linking Shahwan with the claimed terror groups. Therefore, she said, Shahwan will not be allowed to travel due to security concerns.

Israeli online daily Haaretz, reported that Edith Kwakernaak, spokeswoman of the Geuzen Resistance Foundation in the Netherlands, said that the group was shocked and disappointed by the Israeli decision. Kwakernaak stated that freedom of movement is a human rights principle, and added that she is very disappointed that Shawan would not be allowed to leave.

For further information on this case you can read the statement by Al Haq on this Al Haq