Warning: include(/home/adalah/public_html/uploads/oldfiles/newsletter/eng/apr09/../../../eng/head.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/adalah/public_html/uploads/oldfiles/newsletter/eng/apr09/24.php on line 19
Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/adalah/public_html/uploads/oldfiles/newsletter/eng/apr09/../../../eng/head.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/adalah/public_html/uploads/oldfiles/newsletter/eng/apr09/24.php on line 19
24 April 2009
In Memory of Riad Anees
With deep sadness and sorrow we mourn the passing of our beloved friend and colleague, the prominent criminal defense lawyer, Riad Anees.
Riad Anees was born in 1953 in Um El-Fahem. He was the husband of Nargis and the father of Mays ElReem, Ammar, Maram and Rawan. He studied law at the University of Tel Aviv, graduating in 1976. While studying in the University, he emerged as a leader of the student movement. He started working in private practice in Um El-Fahem and was one of the key activists in the Abnaa elBalad (Sons of the Village) movement, representing it as a member of the municipal council in the 1980s. In the 1990s, he joined the National Democratic Assembly-Balad party and became a prominent figure in its leadership.
Riad Anees at work in Adalah's office |
He was distinguished as an outstanding lawyer in the criminal and legal-political fields. During the span of thirty years, he represented a large number of leaders and political activists from Gaza, the West Bank, occupied Jerusalem, the occupied Golan Heights and the Palestinians inside Israel.
There is no a military courtroom that he was not present in; there is no Israeli military judge that he did not appear before, gallantly defending his clients against the Israeli laws of injustice and oppression; there is no Israeli prison that he did not know like his own home, not because he loved prisons, but because of his devotion to their residents, the Palestinian Arab prisoners and detainees. There was no significant political event since the beginning of the 1980s in which he was not directly involved in representing those arrested (the first Intifada, the Jerusalem and AlAqsa Uprising, the al-Rouha events, Um El-Sahali events, Land Days, the aggression against Lebanon and Gaza and others).
He was a friend and great supporter of Adalah and its staff. He joined our team as a main lawyer in the October 2000 killings case. He worked with us faithfully and competently over a long period, |
He also prepared the affidavits for and appeared before the official Commission of Inquiry with us. He was a key partner in the political cases against Azmi Bishara, which we worked on over many years. In addition, we worked together with attorney Jawad Boulos in preparing the framework for their representation on the question of jurisdiction in Marwan Barghouti's case in the Tel Aviv District Court. Furthermore, we worked together to represent the detainees from the al-Rouha and Um El-Sahali events. His work with us in all these cases was pivotal and very important to us, and his legal experience enriched our work tremendously.
Riad was gracious, beautiful, intelligent, loving, witty, emotional, social and modest. In a special meeting that Adalah held in his honor last month, and at the height of his suffering with cancer, he spoke to the Adalah staff with words of encouragement to them and their work. He told them: "In my life and over a period of thirty years, I dealt with thousands of cases, but what gives meaning and value to my professional life and comforts me today are the public and political cases, like those we dealt with together. Therefore, continue with this work so that you will have meaning to your lives. I love you very much."
We promise you that we will follow in your footsteps. We love you and are proud of you and your friendship.
Hassan Jabareen
General Director of Adalah
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff
With Adalah's lawyers at the Supreme Court on the first day
of the proceedings submitting testimonies about the
October 2000 killings to the Or Commission – Jerusalem, 2001
At a consultation meeting with the lawyer Peter Madden,
who represent the victims' families before the Bloody Sunday
Inquiry committee – Belfast, 2001.
Solidarity meeting with the victims' families of
Bloody Sunday – Belfast, 2001
In a meeting with Adalah's staff and Dr. Azmi Bishara
preparing for his cases – Shafa'amr, 2001
At a consultation meeting with prominent criminal defense
lawyers, Stephen Kamlish and Imran Khan, about Adalah's
political trials – London, 2001.
With members of Adalah's legal team representing before
the Or Commission, 2001
In a meeting with Arab lawyers in Adalah preparing for the
representation of people arrested during the October 2000
events, Shafa'amr, 2000.
Attorney Riad Anees speaking at the first meeting to discuss
strategies for the October 2000 killings cases, Shafa'amr, 2000
Attorney Riad Anees at Adalah's Second Annual
Law Students’ Conference, 2007
Attorney Riad Anees speaking at Adalah's Second Annual
Law Students’ Conference, 2007
At an event organized by Adalah to honor Riad,
Haifa, March 2009
At an event organized by Adalah to honor Riad, Haifa,
March 2009
At an event organized by Adalah to honor Riad, Haifa,
March 2009
