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Concerning conditions (Archive)
Photo: Meir Portush

Court: State obligated to rehabilitate Palestinian prisoners

Judges accept appeal by female prisoner, remark that conditions in which she had been living 'saddened and concerned' them. 'These prisoners were created human, no one has the right to forget that,' verdict says

The High Court of Justice on Tuesday reminded the State of its obligations towards Palestinian prisoners, as part of their ruling on the case of a female Palestinian.

 

The judges stated that the Palestinian prisoners were subject to poor conditions, and that they were not being rehabilitated properly by correctional facilities.

 

The court approved an appeal made by 20-year old Nada Dirbas, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony and contact with a foreign agent. Her sentence was reduced from six years to four.

 

The indictment against Dirbas was filed one year ago. It accused her of contacting the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades through another prisoner while serving prison time for a previous offense. After her release from prison she met with a member of the group, and intended to assist him with attacks.

 

The judges who deliberated Dirbas' appeal were critical of the conditions in which she had been living, which were reported to them by a court officer, and remarked that they were "saddened and concerned".

 

According to the judges' verdict, "Even prisoners convicted of offenses – whatever they may be – were created human, and no one has the right to forget that."

 

The verdict also stated that more attention needed to be paid to the prisoners' rehabilitation, especially the youths among them.

 

The judges wrote that they had brought the matter to the attention of the State in a number of previous verdicts, in which they had stressed that terrorists should be rehabilitated, just as Israeli citizens are.

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.02.08, 21:27
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