- Update info:
- 11 Jun 2018 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 22 Mar 2018 (Updated)
- 11 Feb 2018
- Country:
- ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES/PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
- Subject:
- Munther Amira
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 11 Jul 2018
- Distribution date:
- 11 Feb 2018
- UA No:
- 026/2018
Palestinian human rights defender Munther Amira is facing trial before an Israeli military court for peacefully participating in protests. He is facing a prison sentence for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and of assembly. His trial is due to start on 21 February.
Munther Amira was arrested by Israeli soldiers on 27 December 2017 while peacefully participating in a protest. The protest was organized by Palestinian residents and activists in the city of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, and called for the release of activists Ahed and Nariman Tamimi. On 16 January, the Israeli Military Court in Ofer military in the occupied West Bank ordered Munther Amira’s release on bail. However, his release was delayed for 72 hours in order to allow the prosecution to appeal the decision. On 18 January, the military prosecution filed an appeal against the decision to release Munther Amira. On 1 February a military judge at the Military Court of Appeals accepted the prosecution’s appeal to keep Munther Amira in custody until the end of his trial.
On the day of his arrest, the military court presented Munther Amira with 13 charges relating to his participation in five separate demonstrations. Some of the charges he is facing under Israeli Military Order 101, such as “participating in a march without a permit”, are not recognizable criminal offences under international standards. Munther Amira was additionally charged with throwing objects towards people or property and throwing stones at Israeli Border Police officers. The two charges relate to a protest, which took place on 22 December 2017, against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. They are based on testimonies of two Israeli Border Police officers who describe seeing Munther Amira throwing back a teargas projectile, which had been fired at demonstrators by Israeli forces. However, video footage as well as witnesses who attended the protest, rebut the claim and state that Munther Amira was peacefully holding a placard in front of Israeli soldiers, which he then used to try to push the tear gas canister away from himself. An examination of the charge sheet, witnesses’ testimonies and the prosecution’s supporting evidence indicate that Munther Amira is being detained and prosecuted solely for peacefully protesting the Israeli occupation.
more
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Munther Amira, aged 48, is a Palestinian activist and human rights defender, currently serving as the coordinator of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC). PSCC describes itself as a community-based resistance movement that believes in the power of popular struggle, through various forms, such as strikes, peaceful protests and legal campaigns. The group also provides legal aid, communication and advocacy support to activists and seeks to encourage the emergence of new committees and initiatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
Munther Amira is a Palestinian refugee from the village of Deir Aban, located on the southern slopes of Jerusalem. He is a resident of Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem where he works as a social worker and director of the Aida Youth Community Center. According to PSCC, Munther Amira provides support to Palestinian farmers affected by Israeli settlements through his campaigning and advocacy efforts and promotes locally produced Palestinian products. Munther Amira is committed to a platform of non-violence in his popular struggle and regularly organizes peaceful protests against Israeli actions in the city of Bethlehem. Following his arrest, Munther Amira was presented with 13 charges in relation to five different demonstrations near the Rachel’s Tomb checkpoint in Bethlehem. Most of these charges fall under Israeli Military Order 101, which punishes Palestinians for peaceful political expression. The counts of the indictment are as follows: Offense against public order, for having participated in demonstrations and “unlicensed marches” which took place on 1 November, 13 December, 22 December, 23 December and 27 December 2017; obstructing a soldier on 27 December 2017 and throwing an incendiary object and stones towards Israeli soldiers on 22 December 2017. All of the charges in the indictment sheet are strictly concerned with Munther Amira’s participation and role in leading marches, except for those on 22 December 2017.
Munther Amira’s charge for throwing stones is based on the testimony of only one of the above mentioned officers. In contrast, according to his lawyer, the second officer explicitly denies having seen Munther Amira throwing stones. The lawyer also said that the prosecution has not provided any material evidence to support the soldier’s testimony. Additionally, the claim that Munther Amira threw an incendiary object at the Israeli Border Police is based on statements of two Israeli Border Police officers. According to PSCC, both officers mention in their statements knowing Munther Amira from previous events, and state seeing him specifically picking up the projectile with his hand from the ground and throwing it back towards the Israeli forces. However, the prosecution provided as evidence a picture downloaded from Facebook, which lacks chain of custody and is therefore inadmissible in court. Additionally, video footage of the demonstration on 22 December 2017 (https://www.facebook.com/MohammadAazza/videos/1632948863428537/) appears to show Munther Amira pushing a tear gas canister away from himself with a placard. According to four witnesses who also attended the 22 December protest, Munther Amira was peacefully protesting. They indicated that he did not throw stones and only attempted to push the tear gas projectile away with the placard he was holding.
Human rights defenders in the OPT have long been the target of Israeli smears and harassment campaigns aimed at delegitimising their struggle. According to PSCC, Israeli forces had been pressuring Munther Amira to stop his activism, and had threatened him with harm and arrest three months before his detention. PSCC believes that Munther Amira’s arrest is intended to silence active voices in the nonviolent popular struggle for Palestinians’ rights.
Israeli Military Order 101 regulates the right of Palestinians in the West Bank to demonstrate and express themselves freely. It prohibits all gatherings of 10 or more persons “for a political purpose or for a matter that could be interpreted as political” unless they have received authorization from the Israeli military commander in the area. Anyone breaching the order faces imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or a hefty fine.
Further information on UA: 26/18 Index: MDE 15/7841/2018 Issue Date: 08 February 2018
- Update info:
- 11 Jun 2018 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 22 Mar 2018 (Updated)
- 11 Feb 2018
- Country:
- ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES/PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
- Subject:
- Munther Amira
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 11 Jul 2018
- Distribution date:
- 22 Mar 2018
- UA No:
- 026/2018
An Israeli military court sentenced Palestinian human rights defender Munther Amira on 12 March 2018 to six months in prison, five years of probation and a fine. He was convicted on charges relating to his peaceful participation in protests.
Munther Amira, a Palestinian activist and human rights defender, was sentenced to six months in prison, five years of probation, and a fine of 2,000 Israeli shekels (around US$ 581) by Ofer Military Court in the occupied West Bank on 12 March. Convicted on four of the 13 charges against him, his prison sentence is expected to end on 28 June 2018. Munther Amira is currently being held in Hadarim prison in central Israel.
He was arrested by Israeli soldiers on 27 December 2017 while peacefully participating in a protest. The protest was organized by Palestinian residents and activists in the city of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, and called for the release of activists Ahed and Nariman Tamimi.
Munther Amira was originally charged with 13 offences relating to his participation in five separate demonstrations. He was convicted on four counts of “disturbing public order” and participating in a “march without a licence” in relation to four demonstrations that took place in November and December 2017. Some the charges such as “participating in a march without a permit”, which falls under Military Order 101, should not be considered criminal offences under international standards. Evidence brought to court against Munther Amira included holding signs “rebuking the USA” and “the Balfour Declaration” and holding a sign with activist Ahed Tamimi’s picture on it.
Munther Amira had also been charged with throwing objects towards people or property and throwing stones at Israeli Border Police officers. These charges, which he denied and the court dropped, relate to a protest, which took place on 22 December 2017, against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
more
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Munther Amira, aged 48, is a Palestinian activist and human rights defender, currently serving as the coordinator of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC). PSCC describes itself as a community-based resistance movement that believes in the power of popular struggle, through various forms, such as strikes, peaceful protests and legal campaigns. The group also provides legal aid, communication and advocacy support to activists and seeks to encourage the emergence of new committees and initiatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
Munther Amira is a Palestinian refugee from the village of Deir Aban, located south of Jerusalem. He is a resident of Aida Refugee Camp, near Bethlehem, where he works as a social worker and director of the Aida Youth Community Center. According to PSCC, Munther Amira provides support to Palestinian farmers affected by Israeli settlements through his campaigning and advocacy efforts and promotes locally produced Palestinian products. Amira is committed to a platform of non-violence in his popular struggle and regularly organizes peaceful protests against Israeli actions in the city of Bethlehem.
Following his arrest, Munther Amira was presented with 13 charges in relation to five different demonstrations near the Rachel’s Tomb checkpoint in Bethlehem. Most of these charges fall under Israeli Military Order 101, which punishes Palestinians for peaceful political expression. The counts of the indictment were as follows: Offense against public order, for having participated in demonstrations and “unlicensed marches” which took place on 1 November, 13 December, 22 December, 23 December and 27 December 2017; obstructing a soldier on 27 December 2017 and throwing an incendiary object and stones towards Israeli soldiers on 22 December 2017. All of the charges in the indictment sheet were strictly concerned with Munther Amira’s participation and role in leading marches, except for those on 22 December 2017.
Human rights defenders in the OPT have long been the target of Israeli smears and harassment campaigns aimed at delegitimizing their activism. According to PSCC, Israeli forces had been pressuring Munther Amira to stop his activism, and had threatened him with harm and arrest three months before his detention. PSCC believes that Amira’s arrest is intended to silence active voices in the nonviolent popular struggle for Palestinians’ rights.
Israeli Military Order 101 regulates the right of Palestinians in the West Bank to demonstrate and express themselves freely. It prohibits all gatherings of 10 or more persons “for a political purpose or for a matter that could be interpreted as political” unless they have received authorization from the Israeli military commander in the area. Anyone breaching the order faces imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or a hefty fine.
Further Information on UA: 26/18 Index: MDE 15/8054/2018 Issue Date: 19 March 2018
- Update info:
- 11 Jun 2018 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 22 Mar 2018 (Updated)
- 11 Feb 2018
- Country:
- ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES/PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
- Subject:
- Munther Amira
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 11 Jul 2018
- Distribution date:
- 11 Jun 2018
- UA No:
- 026/2018
On 6 June, Palestinian activist and human rights defender, Munther Amira was released from Hadarim Prison in Israel after serving his prison sentence. He was sentenced to six months in prison, five years of probation and a fine on 12 March. He was convicted on charges relating to his peaceful participation in protests.
On 6 June, Palestinian activist and human rights defender, Munther Amira, who is the coordinator of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC), was released from Hadarim Prison in central Israel, after serving six months in prison. He was sentenced to six months in prison, five years of probation and a fine of 2,000 Israeli shekels (around US$ 581) by Ofer Military Court in the occupied West Bank on 12 March.
Munther Amira, aged 48, is a Palestinian refugee from the village of Deir Aban, located south of Jerusalem, and is currently living in Aida Refugee Camp, near Bethlehem. He was arrested by Israeli soldiers on 27 December 2017 while peacefully participating in a protest. The protest was organized by Palestinian residents and activists in Bethlehem, and called for the release of activists Ahed and Nariman Tamimi.
He was originally charged with 13 offences relating to his participation in five separate demonstrations. He was convicted on four counts of “disturbing public order” and participating in a “march without a licence” in relation to four demonstrations that took place in November and December 2017. Some the charges such as “participating in a march without a permit”, which falls under Israeli Military Order 101, should not be considered criminal offences under international standards.
Munther Amira was held inside Israel in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides that detainees of a population from an occupied territory must be detained within that territory.
On 7 June, Munther Amira spoke to Amnesty International and delivered the following message of appreciation to all those who took action on his behalf:
“I am very grateful for all the support I received while I was in prison. Life in prison was very difficult and I was treated badly, but the support of those who believed in me made me strong. I was sentenced on baseless charges for peacefully protesting against the Israeli occupation, but nothing will stop me from continuing on the same path… We are human rights defenders; our duty is to defend the rights of the Palestinian people. We will not be broken and we will continue with the peaceful struggle for our rights until the occupation ends.’’
He added ‘’It feels very good to be back home and to be able to spend the last days of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr [a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan] with my wife and children.’’
Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
This is the second update of UA 26/18. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/7841/2018/en/