On 14 June 2018, we received word that Khalida Jarrar’s administrative detention order would be renewed for an additional four months. This news is heartbreaking and devastating, but not out of the ordinary. Her confirmation hearing will be held on Monday 2 July 2018. The new order is to extend her detainment by a further four months, meaning that it would expire at the end of October 2018.

This would mean that Khalida had been held in prison, without charge or trial, for 16 months.

As we previously have said, Khalida is a fearless human rights defender who has committed herself to utilize all the legal tools available to realize the basic rights of the Palestinian people.

In the occupied Palestinian West Bank, the Israeli army is authorized to issue administrative detention orders against Palestinian civilians on the basis of Military Order 1651. This order empowers military commanders to detain an individual for up to six-month renewable periods if they have “reasonable grounds to presume that the security of the area or public security requires the detention.” On or just before the expiry date, the detention order is frequently renewed. This process can be continued indefinitely.

This practice of arbitrary detention is a grave violation of international laws and human rights standards, particularly articles 78 and 72 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which state that an accused individual has the right to defend him/herself. This also violates Article 66 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the basic standards of fair trial. 

Addameer believes Jarrar's detention violates international fair trial standards since administrative detention orders are based on secret information. Therefore, her legal representatives are unable to fully address the prosecution’s argument, which asserts that Jarrar poses a security threat.

The boycott of court proceedings regarding administrative detention is ongoing, and Khalida is an important part of these activities. Thus, when the court date is set for the confirmation of her renewal, she will not be in attendance. Regardless, it is of the utmost importance that we do everything possible to push the occupation authorities to not confirm her administrative detention order. She is an honest, principled and committed human rights defender, and is deserving of all the support that we can provide.

How you can help

So, there is a number of ways that international supporters can assist Khalida:

1.     Contact decision makers directly

Listed below are the contact details for the relevant decision makers. Please, take a minute out of your day, and reach out directly to them to urge them to release Khalida.

2.     Contact your own representatives

No matter what country you are from, if you have access to your representatives, please contact them directly about the issue. Pressure is built by pressing on those who will listen and have them pass the message up the chain of decisions makers. The only way to do so is to have a sufficient amount of people reach out and express a desire that your government act on the issue.

3.     Organize a solidarity activity

This doesn’t have to mean organize a protest or take to the streets. You can raise awareness about the issue with the showing of a film, a discussion panel, or even by setting up a stall at a local market. Get creative with the means, but the goal is to educate and to engage.

More than ever, we hope that global supporters can engage and assist in the plight of Palestinian prisoners. We have seen 70 years of inaction and disinterest from primary decision makers; the responsibility is now ours. If you need any support with this, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@addameer.ps.

Dear __,

I write today to demand the immediate release of the Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar, who has been under administrative detention since June 2017.

Khalida Jarrar has been imprisoned since 2 July 2017 without charge or trial. Her administrative detention order runs the risk of being renewed on 30 June 2018. Khalida has been held in Administrative Detention on a separate occasion in 2015, prior to being sentenced to 15 months imprisonment by an Israeli Military Court. Following international pressure, she was released in June 2016. Since July 2017, she has had her administrative detention renewed once.

I demand the immediate release of Khalida Jarrar and an end to the administrative detention policy which is on the basis of so-called secret information. This is an attempt to prevent PLC members and human rights advocates, such as Khalida Jarrar, from dedicating their lives to achieving basic dignity for Palestinians. Her continued detention is arbitrary and unjust, and I demand her immediate freedom. 

Sincerely,