A Palestinian circus performer who has been held under administrative detention without charge for almost a year had his release petition rejected on Dec 5.
Mohammad Faisal Abu Sakha, a 23-year-old who works with children with learning difficulties at the Palestinian Circus School in Birzeit, has been branded “a security threat”. The basis for this assessment? “Secret evidence produced by the Military Prosecutor in December 2015.”
The school said in a statement that this is an “unfounded claim”, adding that “as long as no charges and accessible evidence are formally brought against him, Abu Sakha will be prevented from defending himself and effectively denied his right to a fair trial.”
Abu Sakha is yet another victim of Israel’s highly criticized policy of administrative detention without trial based on evidence which is not disclosed to detainees or their lawyers. Internment can be renewed every six months.
Responding to Abu Sakha's case, EU, Swiss and Norwegian representatives to Jerusalem and Ramallah have issued a statement calling for the fair treatment of prisoners, and the respect of their human rights.
International activists have used social media to call for his release:
Abu Sakha is a Palestinian Circus performer since Dec 15 he is in jail with no charge
Why u r silent? He needs your voice#Justice4AbuSakha pic.twitter.com/61bgt7xa1v— stefania_Palestine (@stefaniafoddis1) December 2, 2016
@Israel @giladerdan1 continues to hold #Palestinian circus performer #AbuSakha without charge or trial: he should be charged or released ! pic.twitter.com/aBFhsUslKA
— J-J. Docquir (@JJDocquir) December 8, 2016
After a year in Prison, an #Israel Court denies Release of #Palestinian Circus Performer, he's deemed a Security Threat. Scared #Netanyahu?
— The Docterr (@docuterror) December 10, 2016
There are 720 Palestinians currently being held in Israeli administrative detention, according to rights group Addameer.
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