A Case Intertwining Legal and Humanitarian Dimensions
The lawyers of the “Meezan” Human Rights Foundation in Nazareth recently defended prisoner Aya Khatib, from the village of Ar’ara, during a hearing held at the Ministry of Health in Jerusalem. The session addressed the ministry’s request to revoke her license to practice speech and language therapy for children, a profession Aya worked in before her arrest on February 17, 2020.
Attorneys Omar Khamaisi and Mustafa Mahamid presented legal objections to the ministry’s request, emphasizing that disciplinary committees typically rely on criminal court decisions, meaning the discussion should focus on the nature of the punishment rather than the conviction itself. The lawyers pointed out that the conviction was issued by the Haifa District Court under the 2016 Counter-Terrorism Law and that “Meezan” was not a party to the original case.
The attorneys argued that the ministry seeks to impose an additional penalty on Aya by exploiting disciplinary committees, noting that she has already been sentenced to four years of actual imprisonment.
“Meezan” contended that permanently revoking Aya’s professional license would be an excessively harsh and unjustified measure. They cited similar cases of doctors who committed legal violations but faced limited-term penalties without losing their licenses permanently.
They also argued that the Ministry of Health’s request was driven by discriminatory and targeted motives. The ministry had based its request on allegations of Aya committing “serious” violations while incarcerated at Damon Prison. However, “Meezan” clarified that these allegations were related to legitimate complaints about improving prison conditions, such as food quality, clothing, and heating—basic rights that should not justify disciplinary action.
“Meezan” emphasized that revoking Aya’s license could not be justified, as her work posed no threat to state security or public safety. The foundation called for consideration of her social and family circumstances when making any punitive decisions.
In a related context, Ali Aqal, Aya Khatib’s husband, shed light on the family’s struggles amidst the legal proceedings, including the appeal against her sentence and the attempt to revoke her professional license. He explained that the sentence appeal was delayed due to the recent war, and the family had only been able to visit her once since September 18, 2023, with visits limited to attorneys.
Ali spoke about the psychological impact on their children, especially their youngest son, Abdulrahman, who had forgotten what his mother looked like. He mentioned that the last family meeting with Aya occurred during a disciplinary court session, over 400 days ago.
He also highlighted the stringent restrictions imposed by authorities, including bans on phone calls, family visits, and the delivery of personal belongings. Aya’s last appearance was via video during a Supreme Court session, where police barred any interaction with her family. News about her is received only through lawyers or released prisoners.
Aya Khatib’s case continues to spotlight the intersection of legal and humanitarian dimensions. The “Meezan” Foundation remains committed to defending her professional and human rights and ensuring a dignified life for her and her family.
