RSS Feeds
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it    
Occupation magazine - Siege, Wall, Checkpoints

Home page  back Print  Send To friend

EU Condemns the Persecution of Bil`in`s Abdallah Abu Rahmah for the Second Time
Press Release -
Popular Struggle Coordinating Committee
October 21, 2010
http://www.popularstruggle.org

EU Representatives and Consul Generals in Jerusalem made a statement condemning the
sentencing of Abdallah Abu Rahmah to one year in prison by the Israeli military court.
In a peremptory statement released today, representatives of all EU member states declared that they
consider the route of the separation wall built on Palestinian land to be illegal, and that, as Abu Rahmah
was `a human rights defender` participating in peaceful protests against this wall, and that they are
concerned about his recent sentence of 12 months in prison by an Israeli military court.
The EU recognized the necessity of human rights defenders in promoting human rights, and stated that
EU Member States followed the case closely, and regret Abu Rahmah`s imprisonment.
Immediately following Abu Rahmah`s initial conviction on August 24th, EU representatives and The
European Union`s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton,
strongly condemned his conviction. Ashton said at that time, `The High Representative is deeply
concerned that the possible imprisonment of Mr Abu Rahmah is intended to prevent him and other
Palestinians from exercising their legitimate right to protest against the existence of the separation
barriers in a non violent manner.`
`The EU`s continued public support is important, but it must also be translated into real and concrete
pressure on Israel,` said Mohammed Khatib, secretary of the Bil`in Village Council. `While Israel
continues to oppress Palestinians protesters and grassroots organizers under the guise of enforcing law
in military courts, it is still embraced by the international community. While Abdallah languishes in Jail
the OECD will convene in Jerusalem`, he added.
Full Statement:
Jerusalem, 20 October 2010
Statement by the EU Representatives to the Palestinian Authority and the EU Consul
Generals in Jerusalem on the sentence of Abdallah Abu Rahma:
`The EU Representatives to the Palestinian Authority and the EU Consul Generals in Jerusalem are
concerned by the 12 months sentence to prison of Abdallah Abu Rahma on 11 October by an Israeli
military court. The EU considers Abdallah Abu Rahma a human rights defender who has protested in a
peaceful manner against the route of the Israeli separation barrier through his village of Bil`in.
The EU considers the route of the barrier where it is built on Palestinian land to be illegal. The EU
supports the key role of human rights defenders in promoting and furthering of human rights. The EU
Member States and the EU Representative`s office have followed this case closely, attending all of
Abdallah Abu Rahma`s hearings. In this context, as already expressed in a spokesperson`s statement of
High Representative Catherine Ashton on 25 August, we regret the sentence of Abdallah Abu Rahma.`

Background
Abu Rahmah, the coordinator of the Bil`in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, was
arrested last year by soldiers who raided his home at the middle of the night and was subsequently
indicted before an Israeli military court on unsubstantiated charges that included stone-throwing and
arms possession. Abu Rahmah was cleared of both the stone-throwing and arms possession charges,
but convicted of organizing illegal demonstrations and incitement.
An exemplary case of mal-use of the Israeli military legal system in the West Bank for the purpose of
silencing legitimate political dissent, Abu Rahmah`s conviction was subject to harsh international
criticism. The EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, expressed her deep concern `that the possible
imprisonment of Mr Abu Rahma is intended to prevent him and other Palestinians from exercising their
legitimate right to protest[...]`, after EU diplomats attended all hearings in Abu Rahmah`s case. Ashton`s
statement was followed by one from the Spanish Parliament.
Renowned South African human right activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called on Israel to overturn
Abu Rahmah`s conviction on behalf of the Elders, a group of international public figures noted as elder
statesmen, peace activists, and human rights advocates, brought together by Nelson Mandela.
Members of the Elders, including Tutu, have met with Abu Rahmah on their visit to Bil`in prior to his
arrest.
International human rights organizations Amnesty International condemned Abu Rahmah`s conviction
as an assault on the right to freedom of expression. Human Rights Watch denounced the conviction,
pronouncing the whole process `an unfair trial`.
Legal Background
Abu Rahmah, the coordinator of the Bil`in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, was
acquitted of two out of the four charges brought against him in the indictment - stone-throwing and a
ridiculous and vindictive arms possession charge. According to the indictment, Abu Rahmah collected
used tear-gas projectiles and bullet cases shot at demonstrators, with the intention of exhibiting them to
show the violence used against demonstrators. This absurd charge is a clear example of how eager the
military prosecution is to use legal procedures as a tool to silence and smear unarmed dissent.
The court did, however, find Abu Rahmah guilty of two of the most draconian anti-free speech articles in
military legislation: incitement, and organizing and participating in illegal demonstrations. It did so based
only on testimonies of minors who were arrested in the middle of the night and denied their right to legal
counsel, and despite acknowledging significant ills in their questioning.
The court was also undeterred by the fact that the prosecution failed to provide any concrete evidence
implicating Abu Rahmah in any way, despite the fact that all demonstrations in Bil`in are systematically
filmed by the army.
Under military law, incitement is defined as `The attempt, verbally or otherwise, to influence public
opinion in the Area in a way that may disturb the public peace or public order` (section 7(a) of the Order
Concerning Prohibition of Activities of Incitement and Hostile Propaganda (no.101), 1967), and carries a
10 years maximal sentence.


ca
Links to the latest articles in this section

Zoom events this week: Israeli mass protests / Traums in Gaza
Israel`s approach to Gaza needs to change
Israel calls on Egypt to stop entry of construction materials to Gaza