URGENT APPEAL: Ref: UA 05 / 10.

NAME: Adeeb Abu Rahmah

VIOLATIONS: Wrongful imprisonment of Bilin non-violent activist, Adeeb Abu Rahmah

On 30 June grassroots activist Adeeb Abu Rahmah was sentenced by Israel to two years imprisonment at a military court hearing at the Ofer Military Complex in the occupied West Bank. Adeeb Abu Rahmah is known for his vibrant presence at the occupied West Bank village of Bilin's weekly demonstrations against Israel's wall and for his commitment to popular non-violent resistance. A founding member of the Bilin Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Abu Rahmah was arrested at a non-violent demonstration on 10 July 2009 and later indicted by the military prosecution on grounds of 'incitement,' 'activity against public order,' and 'being present in a closed military zone.'

Please press the TAKE ACTION BOX to the right  to send letter of appeal for his release to Mrs Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders,  H.E.RIYAD H MANSOUR, Ambassador,  Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine,  H.E. DANIEL CARMON, Deputy Representative of Israel to the United Nations and Menachem Mazuz Israeli Attorney General, Ministry of Justice and please send this appeal to your mailing lists.

For further information:  http://www.bilin-village.org/english/

Read the full article / Leggi l'articolo completo: http://www.uruknet.de/?p=67551

Mrs Margaret Sekaggya,

UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders

Your Excellency

I appeal to you to demand that  Israel secures the immediate and unconditional release of Bilin non-violent activist, Adeeb Abu Rahmah

On 30 June grassroots activist Adeeb Abu Rahmah was sentenced by Israel to two years imprisonment at a military court hearing at the Ofer Military Complex in the occupied West Bank. Abu Rahmah already spent 11 months behind bars and his arrest and detention is part of Israel's repressive efforts to criminalize the grassroots popular resistance to the Israeli occupation.

Adeeb Abu Rahmah is known for his vibrant presence at the occupied West Bank village of Bilin's weekly demonstrations against Israel's wall and for his commitment to popular non-violent resistance. A founding member of the Bilin Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Abu Rahmah was arrested at a non-violent demonstration on 10 July 2009 and later indicted by the military prosecution on grounds of 'incitement,' 'activity against public order,' and 'being present in a closed military zone.'

 
Abu Rahmah has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to non-violent resistance. He has also denied all charges, aside from acknowledging his participation in the weekly demonstrations aganst the illegal apartheid wall. Although his release was initially ordered on 16 July 2009, the prosecution later appealed the decision and Abu Rahmah was remanded into custody for the duration of his legal proceedings.

Many contend that Israel's investigation of Abu Rahmeh was flawed from the very beginning, and the Israeli military court system is notorious for its lack of respect for international standards of fair trial and detention. A 5 March 2010 Human Rights Watch report particularly highlighted many due process concerns where investigations regarding Palestinian anti-wall demonstrators are concerned, citing charges based on 'questionable evidence and allegedly coerced confessions.'

Abu Rahmah's case could also have far-reaching implications for other anti-wall activists currently awaiting trial. As Amnesty International explained, he could be 'the first activist against the fence/wall to be brought to a full evidential trial in a case of this kind.' Abu Rahmah's conviction could potentially set troubling new precedents for further criminalizing the popular resistance.

Sincerely