An Israeli court has renewed the administrative detention of Palestinian prisoner, Bilal Salim Salhab al-Tamimi, for the sixth time since he was detained more than two years ago, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Center for Studies said in a statement on Tuesday.
Al-Tamimi’s lawyer filed an appeal to the court not to renew the administrative detention order, while the Israeli prosecution told the court al-Tamimi was “dangerous,” arguing that the decision to detain Palestinians who are alleged “security threats” is the responsibility of Israel’s security agencies.
The Israeli court rejected al-Tamimi’s lawyer’s appeal and sentenced al-Tamimi to four further months in administrative detention.
Just today, Israel renewed the administrative detention of Bilal Salim Salhab al-Tamimi for the 6th time: https://t.co/ofqE91LAVk
— The IMEU (@theIMEU) September 27, 2016
The Center also noted that al-Tamimi was initially detained in June 7, 2014, when he was sentenced to six months in administrative detention, which was has since been continuously renewed by Israeli courts.
Al-Tamimi is currently being held in Ktziot prison in the southern Negev region of Israel.
Israeli authorities claim that the withholding of evidence during administrative detention, which allows detention for three- to six-month renewable intervals based on undisclosed evidence, is essential for state security concerns.
Rights groups have claimed that Israel’s administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt… https://t.co/enfAj9s9Jp
— antonio maniscalco (@antoniomanisca4) July 13, 2016
However, rights groups have claimed that the policy allows Israeli authorities to hold Palestinians for an indefinite period of time without showing any evidence that could justify their detentions.
They have further claimed that Israel’s administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political and social processes, notably targeting Palestinian politicians, activists, and journalists.
(MA’AN, PC)
