Ziyad Hmeidan

Al-Haq fieldworker, Ziyad Hmeidan

Front Line welcomes the release on 18 March 2007 of Al-Haq fieldworker and human rights defender, Ziyad Hmeidan detained by Israeli authorities without charge or trial since 23 May 2005

AL-HAQ PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE REF.: 5.2007E 19 March 2007

Al-Haq Fieldworker Released from Administrative Detention

On 18 March 2007, Al-Haq fieldworker and human rights defender, Ziyad Hmeidan, was dropped off by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) at the Dahiriya (Meitar) checkpoint, south of Hebron, at around 14:15, marking the end of almost two years of detention without charge or fair trial. From the checkpoint Ziyad travelled to the village of Sa’ir, where he met briefly with a number of Al-Haq’s staff, before heading on to Bethlehem, where he was reunited with his wife and two young children. Ziyad’s release, similar to the entire process which arbitrarily deprived him of his freedom for 20 months, was marked by obstructions from the Israeli authorities.  

Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court revealed on 3 October 2006 that police lied while testifying against 11 human rights defenders accused of violent acts while demonstrating against the West Bank Wall.

The court acquitted the activists and the Judge in his ruling said: ‘A feeling of serious discomfort has arisen from the mighty gap between the officers testimony and what is seen in the video tapes,’ he said. ‘I cannot rule out the possibility that had it not been for the videotapes, I would have reached a different result regarding the defendants.’

Front Line is extremely concerned about the ongoing detention without trial of three Palestinian human rights defenders, Ziyad Hmeidan, Hassan Zaga and Ahmad Abu Hannye. They are being held on the basis of secret testimony from security forces, which the defenders and their lawyers are prevented from hearing or challenging in court.  

16 February 2006

A Front Line delegation, including Front Line’s Director, Mary Lawlor traveled to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) from 8 February to 14 February to launch a report on the situation of human rights defenders in the region.

The report, which is written in conjunction with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), examines killings, injury, arbitrary detention and arrest of human rights defenders over the past five years caused by both the Israeli military and by forces with links to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)

The report recommends, among other things, that Israel stop treating human rights defenders as terrorists and lifts the regime of checkpoints, closures and curfews which has imposed a siege across the OPT and prevented defenders from carrying out their work.

It calls for the release of a number of human rights defenders including al Haq fieldworker Ziyad Hmeidan who has been held without charge by Israeli authorities since July 2005.