Palestinian Citizens of Israel - Political Detainees in the Naqab (Negev)
Today, the District Court in Beer el Sebe (Beer Sheva) denied Adalah’s appeal requesting the release of Mr. Yosef al-Atawna and Mr. Abed el-Kareem al-Ataika from detention. Mr. Al-Atawna, the Director of the Education Department of the local council of Hura and an activist with the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, and Mr. al-Ataika, the Director of the Arab Youth Center in Rahat and an activist with the National Democratic Assembly party, were arrested, charged and detained for five days on 5 April 2002. They are being held for supporting a “terrorist organization,” based on statements they allegedly made in support of President Yasser Arafat during the Land Day demonstration on 30 March. Adalah Staff Attorney Morad el-Sana is representing the two political activists. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for tomorrow, 9 April 2002, in the Magistrate Court of Beer el Sebe at 13:30.
Today, the Magistrate Court in Beer el Sebe ordered Mr. Ibrahim Baranse, the Head of the Arab Students Committee at Ben Gurion University (BGU), detained for two days. Mr. Baranse was arrested yesterday afternoon on the same charges as Mr. al-Atawna and Mr. al-Ataika. Adalah Staff Attorney Morad el-Sana and Attorney Abdullah Dakwar are representing Mr. Baranse. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for Wednesday, 10 April 2002, in the Magistrate Court of Beer el Sebe.
Adalah learned that the police arrested another three community activists this afternoon, who also participated in the Land Day demonstrations in the Naqab. They are Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Medeghem, Mr. Wa’dia al-Atawna, and Mr. Walid al-Atawna. Adalah expects that these three men will be brought before the Magistrate Court in Beer el Sebe tomorrow, 9 April 2002.
Adalah also received reports that Mr. Mohammed Salman al-Ataika, the supervisor of the Arab Youth Center in Rahat, and Mr. Mohammed Mahajneh, a student at BGU, were requested to appear for investigation by the police in Beer el Sebe.
An emergency meeting of volunteer lawyers and community activists will be held tonight in the Naqab in support of the political detainees.
