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Mohammed Abu Sakha (photo: Courtesy of Addameer)
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Update: June 13, 2016

By Edo Konrad for 972Mag

Hasan Safadi placed under administrative detention for six months, after being accused of affiliation with an illegal organization and visiting an enemy state.


Israeli authorities placed a Palestinian prisoners’ rights activist under administrative detention for six months beginning last Friday, 40 days after he was first detained and taken in for interrogation.

Hasan Safadi, who works as media coordinator for Addameer, an NGO that supports Palestinian prisoners in both Israeli and Palestinian prisons, was set to be released from detention on June 10 by order of Jerusalem’s Magistrate’s Court, after paying NIS 2,500 in bail and obtaining third-party guarantees. Later the same day, however, Israeli Minister Avigdor Liberman signed an administrative detention order against Safadi, effectively overriding the court’s decision.

Administrative detention is a procedure that allows Israel to hold detainees indefinitely based on secret evidence without charging them or allowing them to stand trial. Administrative detention orders may be renewed indefinitely.

Safadi was first arrested on May 1 as he was crossing Allenby Bridge from Jordan into the West Bank on his way home from an Arab Youth Conference in Tunisia. From there he was transferred to Moskobiyyeh interrogation center.

During his trial, the military prosecution claimed that Safadi was affiliated with an illegal organization and has visited an enemy state (Lebanon) more than one time. It further claimed that he has conducted illegal activities without specifying exactly what those activities are, and argued that he is affiliated with other Palestinian detainees without identifying the names of said detainees.

According to Addameer Safadi was subjected to sleep deprivation, long interrogation sessions, and was placed into stress positions with his hands tied throughout the interrogation. He was also denied access to an attorney for a period of 10 days as well as family visitations.

Mohammed Abu Sakha (photo: Courtesy of Addameer)
Mohammed Abu Sakha (photo: Courtesy of Addameer)
On Monday Israeli military authorities also renewed the administrative detention of Palestinian circus trainer and clown Mohammad Abu Sakha for an additional six months, from June 13 to December 12. Abu Sakha is known for working with special needs children in the West Bank, and runs the Palestinian Circus School. He was first arrested on December 14, 2015 while he was crossing Zaatara military checkpoint near Nablus on his way to work in the village of Birzeit, near Ramallah.

According to Abu Sakha’s lawyer, he was barely investigated by the police for general charges, all of which he denied. When asked for comment, the IDF Spokesperson said that “Mohammed Abu Sakha has been under administrative detention since December 14, 2015 for his involvement in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which according to confidential military intelligence that reached the Israeli court, makes him a severe security threat.”

During a hearing in an Israeli military court, Abu Sakha responded to claims the against him: “I am a circus performer. I am a clown. I have traveled around Eruope and met with all kinds of people, Palestinians, Israelis, Americans. I have no intention of engaging in violent acts.” A confirmation hearing for his current administrative order is scheduled for June 15, during which a military judge may confirm, limit, or cancel the order.

According to Addameer, of May 2016 there were 715 Palestinians in administrative detention, including three members of the Palestinian Legislative Committee.




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June 10, 2016
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli authorities sentenced Palestinian journalist, activist, and Addameer media coordinator Hasan Sadadi to six months of administrative detention on Friday, the prisoner’s rights group Addameer announced.

Israeli forces detained Safadi as he crossed the Allenby bridge between the occupied West Bank and Jordan at the start of May, keeping him under Israeli military interrogation for forty days before sentencing him to six months of administrative detention -- internment without trial or charges -- on Friday.

According to Addameer, the human rights activist was set to be released on bail on Friday, and had already reportedly paid the bail fee of 2,500 shekels ($648), when a magistrate court issued the detention order.

Israel’s widely-condemned policy of administrative detention allows internment without charge or trial in maximum six-month long renewable intervals based on undisclosed evidence that even a detainee’s lawyer is barred from viewing.

Rights groups have claimed that Israel's detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political processes, notably targeting Palestinian politicians, activists, and journalists.

Addameer stated that the group “condemns the violations practiced by the occupation forces systematically against human rights activists, and human rights defenders, and journalists.”

“Addameer also denounces the arbitrary detentions against them and others standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people in light of the daily crimes practiced against them by the occupation forces, which violate international human rights and humanitarian laws,” the group added.

Israeli authorities have carried out a concerted crackdown on Palestinian journalists and human rights activists since a wave of violence erupted in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in October, with several dozen Palestinian journalists being detained by Israeli forces.

According to Addameer, 715 Palestinians are currently being held in administrative detention, including three Palestinian parliament members.