Heroic Palestinian Lawmaker Khalida Jarrar Lawlessly Detained

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member, civil society leader, human rights champion Jarrar is a redoubtable figure - why Israel lawlessly abducted and detained her earlier.

In August 2014, they ordered her expelled from Ramallah to Jericho for six months - reduced to one month following an intense solidarity campaign, as well as international and diplomatic pressure on her behalf. 

She defied Israel's order, stayed in her home, and said "it is the occupation (that) must leave our homeland."

Her daughter, Suha, earlier called her "an influential leader, feminist and activist. She speaks strongly and loudly against colonization and oppression." 

Her truth-telling threatens Israeli apartheid. The Addameer prisoners support group called her earlier arrest "an attack against Palestinian political leaders and Palestinian civil society as a whole."

Israel wants her silenced, including her legitimate political activities and free expression rights.

In April 2015, she was administratively detained uncharged and untried for six months - held until released in June 2016.

Her political activist husband Ghassan was arrested 14 times, imprisoned for nearly a year uncharged and untried.

On Sunday, Khalida was again arrested and detained in a pre-dawn raid. PLO members expressed outrage.

Head of the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe condemned what happened - called her rearrest "a violation of international laws and immunity given to elected" Palestinian lawmakers.

He demanded Arab and other political figures intervene on her behalf, demanding her release - along with 12 other illegally held PLC members.

Qaraqe explained around 70 Palestinian political figures were arrested and detained illegally by Israel since 2002, including several female members like Jarrar.

PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashwari issued a statement, saying "(c)learly, this political arrest is further proof that the judicial system in Israel has no relation to justice."

PLO Executive Committee members called for her immediate release, saying "Israel must not be given a free hand to dehumanize the Palestinian people and systematically devalue their basic rights and lives." 

Addameer said her "arrest…constitutes an attack against Palestinian political leaders and Palestinian civil society as a whole."

"It also constitutes one arrest in the context of continuous arrest campaigns against (all) Palestinians" unjustly.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said lawlessly arresting Jarrar and others like her shows the futility of resolving longstanding conflict with Israeli diplomatically - a waste of time trying.

Israel's contempt for fundamental rule of law principles is longstanding - worst than ever under racists, fascists and religious fundamentalists running things.

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