Palestinian human rights defender released

Ahmad Abu Haniya following his release from administrative detention

Ahmad Abu Hannya the Youth Project Coordinator for the Alternative Information Center a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization based in Jerusalem was released on 14 May 2007 after two years in administrative detention

Since Ahmad Abu Hannya’s arrest at a military checkpoint near Bethlehem on 18 May 2005 his administrative detention period has been extended twice. On 30 November 2006, he was informed by a military court that his administrative detention period was to be extended by a further six months, on the basis of ‘'secret evidence', which was not revealed to either Ahmad Abu Hannya or his lawyer.

Front Line welcomes Ahmad Abu Hannya’s release but remains deeply concerned at the continuing persecution of human rights defenders across the Occupied Palestinian Territories through the use of administrative detention. There are approximately 800 Palestinian administrative detainees currently being held by the State of Israel, a practice, which allows for detainees to be held without charge and without trial. By the detention order, a detainee is given a specific term of detention. On or before the expiry of the term, as in the case of Ahmad Abu Hannya, the detention order is frequently renewed. Most administrative detainees are held in Ofer prison in the West Bank and Ketziot prison in the Negev desert.

Front Line urges the authorities of the State of Israel to take all measures to ensure that human rights defenders in the State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory carrying out their legitimate work in human rights, are able to operate free of all restrictions and harassment.