مؤسسة ميزان لحقوق الإنسان

Organization for Human Rights Meezaan

Court Decides to Reduce the Ban on Lawyer Visiting Prisoners to Three Months

Meezaan Foundation News

The Nazareth District Court convened on Wednesday morning, November 20, 2024, to review the case of a lawyer from the Northern Triangle area being barred from visiting prisoners in Israeli jails. The lawyer in question, Mustafa Suheil Mahamid, was represented by attorneys Mustafa Mahamid and Omar Khmaisi from the “Mizan” Human Rights Center.

Following discussions between the defense team, represented by “Mizan,” and the Public Prosecution, the court decided to reduce the ban on the lawyer visiting prisoners to three months. This decision was in line with a request made by “Mizan,” while the prosecution had sought to extend the ban for six months.

Commenting on the details of the case, lawyer Mustafa Mahamid explained that the lawyer in question had been barred from visiting prisoners for several months based on justifications that align with the Israeli policy of restricting prisoners’ rights. He noted that this policy is part of a broader effort to exert pressure on the detainees, a strategy for which the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, is held responsible.

Mustafa Mahamid
Mustafa Mahamid

This policy includes preventing lawyers from visiting security detainees, which Mahamid described as a deliberate step to increase pressure on prisoners. He also pointed out that the families of prisoners have been similarly barred from visiting their loved ones, thus preventing them from checking on their health and living conditions.

Mahamid further explained that lawyers who wish to visit prisoners to monitor their conditions and ensure that their basic rights—such as access to food, clothing, and hygiene—are being upheld, are facing the same restrictions. He stated, “This policy is intended to violate the rights of prisoners and to prevent any revelations about what is happening inside the prisons, in light of the tightened security measures imposed by Minister Ben Gvir.”

The lawyers from “Mizan” expressed hope that the decision would be revoked after the three-month period, allowing the lawyer to resume his work of visiting prisoners and checking on their conditions inside the prisons.

 

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