Case History: Hasan Karajah
On 23 January 2013, human rights defender and youth activist Mr Hasan Karajah was arrested at his family home in the village of Saffa, near Ramallah, by Israeli forces. He was then released on 19 October 2014.
Mr Hasan Karajah is a prominent human rights defender who works on youth campaigns with Stop the Wall Movement, an organisation which peacefully advocates against the presence and expansion of the Wall, as well as defending prisoners' rights.
Update: Human rights defender Hasan Karajah was released on 19 October 2014
On 9 April 2013, the Ofer Military Court postponed the trial of human rights defender Mr Hasan Karajah in order to review the case files and determine the main charges. Hasan Karajah has been in detention at Eishel Prison since 23 January 2013.
This is the fourth time Hasan Karajah's detention has been extended since he was first arrested by Israeli forces on 23 January 2013 at his family home in the village of Saffa, near Ramallah, and taken to Moskobiyyeh Interrogation Centre in Jerusalem, where he currently remains. Serious concerns have been expressed regarding ill-treatment during detention and the poor health of the human rights defender.
Hasan Karajah works on youth campaigns with Stop the Wall Movement, an organisation which peacefully advocates against the presence and expansion of the Wall, as well as defending prisoners' rights.
Front Line Defenders expresses concern at the continued detention of human rights defender Hasan Karajah and the rejection of the appeal for bail by Ofer Military Court, acts which we believe to be solely motivated by Hasan Karajah's legitimate and peaceful human rights work.
Front Line Defenders is also seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the human rights defender, in light of reported ill-treatment and inadequate medical care. Front Line Defenders urges the Israeli authorities to ensure Hasan Karajah's immediate release, while, as a matter of urgency, ceasing all acts of ill-treatment against him and providing adequate medical attention.
On 18 February 2013, Ofer Military Court rejected an appeal against the continued detention of human rights defender Mr Hasan Karajah, resulting in the extension of his detention period until 24 February.
This is the third time Hasan Karajah's detention has been extended since he was first arrested on 23 January 2013 at his family home in the village of Saffa, near Ramallah, by Israeli forces, and taken to Moskobiyyeh Interrogation Centre in Jerusalem, where he currently remains. Serious concerns have been expressed regarding ill-treatment during detention and the poor health of the human rights defender.
Hasan Karajah works on youth campaigns with Stop the Wall Movement, an organisation which peacefully advocates against the presence and expansion of the Wall, as well as defending prisoners' rights.
During the first 20 days of his detention, Hasan Karajah was denied access to his lawyer. According to information received, the human rights defender has been interrogated for up to 14 hours at a time, while being tied to a chair. When not under interrogation, he has been held in a 2 meter by 2 meter cell and has not been allowed to go outside since his arrest.
It is reported that after his lawyer lodged an appeal to Ofer Military Court, the human rights defender was interrogated on several occasions in early hours of the morning, beginning at 3 and 4 am, which, the interrogator told him, was a punishment for filing an appeal. The interrogations have concentrated on Hasan Karajah's activities with Stop the Wall Campaign and the Handala Cultural Centre in Saffa.
Reports have also been received indicating that Hasan Karajah suffers from significant back and leg pain, resulting from a previous accident, for which he had been taking specific medication. While the Israeli Prison Service has provided the human rights defender with medication, it is not reportedly as strong or effective as the medication Hasan Karajah had previously been taking.
Front Line Defenders expresses concern at the continued detention of human rights defender Hasan Karajah and the rejection of the appeal by Ofer Military Court, acts which we believe to be solely motivated by Hasan Karajah's legitimate and peaceful human rights work. Front Line Defenders is also seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the human rights defender, in light of reported ill-treatment and inadequate medical care. Front Line Defenders urges the Israeli authorities to ensure Hasan Karajah's immediate release, while, as a matter of urgency, ceasing all acts of ill-treatment against him and providing adequate medical attention.
On 23 January 2013, human rights defender and youth activist Mr Hasan Karajah was arrested at his family home in the village of Saffa, near Ramallah, by Israeli forces. Mr Hasan Karajah is a prominent human rights defender who works on youth campaigns with Stop the Wall Movement, an organisation which peacefully advocates against the presence and expansion of the Wall, as well as defending prisoners' rights. He is currently being held in Moskobiyyeh Interrogation Centre in Jerusalem.
At 2.30 am on the morning of 23 January 2013, approximately 20 soldiers from the Israeli forces raided Hasan Karajah's family home in Saffa. During the raid, the male and female members of the family were locked in separate rooms by the soldiers, while they searched the house for three hours. A search warrant was not presented to the family. During the search, 3 computers and several personal documents and photos were confiscated. The soldiers also attempted to search the human right defender's sister, Ms Sumood Karajah. When she refused, the soldiers reportedly insulted and threatened her. The male members of the family were subsequently interrogated and ordered to present their ID cards and contact phone numbers.
Hasan Karajah was then taken outside the family home and interrogated. He was subsequently blindfolded and handcuffed and transferred to Moskobiyyeh Interrogation Centre, without any formal charges presented or an explanation provided to his family. Access to his lawyer has not been provided to the human rights defender, while soldiers did not allow necessary medication belonging to Hasan Karajah to be taken with him at the time of his arrest. The human rights defender suffers from inflammation and a contorted back.
Prior to his work at Stop the Wall Movement, Hasan Karajah was part of a youth development project in conjunction with the Tamer Institute for Community Education and the Bisan Center for Research and Development. He has also represented Palestinian youth abroad as part of his role at the Arab Thought Foundation on several occasions.
Front Line Defenders is concerned at the arbitrary arrest of Hasan Karajah and at due process irregularities, including refusal of access to a lawyer. Front Line Defenders is also concerned for the human rights defender's physical health given his medical condition.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Israel to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Hasan Karajah, as Front Line believes that he is being held solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Hasan Karajah, including by ensuring he receives immediate and adequate medical attention, as well as access to his lawyer;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Israel and territories under Israeli control, including Palestine, are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
