MPLC Khalida Jarrar jailed by Israel for six months without trial
Deutsche Welle, Jul 14 2017
Palestinian politician Khalida Jarrar was ordered to be detained for six months without trial by Israeli authorities, the prison support group Addameer said on Thursday. The 54-year-old was arrested earlier this month because of her membership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). At the time of her arrest, the Shin Bet said Jarrar had been “promoting terror activities.” Jarrar was one of three PFLP members elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), which ceased to function after the 2006 split between Hamas and Fatah. Samidoun, the Palestinian prisoners’ solidarity network, said Jarrar was one of 11 MPLCs currently serving time without trial in Israeli jails. Jarrar is a popular figure among Palestinians and is known for fiery speeches against Israel. The long-time campaigner was previously jailed multiple times by Israel along with her activist husband Ghassan Jarrar, who himself spent a total of 11 years in Israeli prisons without charges being levied. Protests were held in May in support of 1,500 Palestinian inmates who went on hunger strike against their prison conditions. Jarrar had been released from a 14-month sentence in Jun 2016 after she was jailed for allegedly encouraging attacks against Israelis. Israel’s administrative detention policy, which allows for six-month detention periods to be renewed indefinitely, has come in for much criticism from human rights groups who say Israel use the orders routinely as a form of collective punishment of Palestinians. WAFA reported that Jarrar and fellow MPP Ibrahim Dahbour were among 50 Palestinians held recently under the detention orders. Around 6,500 Palestinians are currently in Israel jails, including around 500 in administrative detention, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club. Palestinian prisoners have mounted repeated hunger strikes to protest their detention. In May, some 1,500 prisoners ended a 40-day hunger strike after a deal was reached to allow them more regular visitation rights and better healthcare.
Niqnaq 