3 GSS detainees still in remand, 2 prevented from meeting with an attorney

Thursday, May 15, 2014, 22:19 Honenu attorneys are representing three youths, two of them minors, held in remand by the GSS. Two of them, one adult and one minor, are being prevented from meeting with an attorney, which is an extreme measure generally reserved for particularly dangerous terrorists. On Thursday, May 15 deliberations on the three detainees took place in several courts. The remand of the minors has been extended and the time limit on the order forbidding one of them to meet with an attorney has been shortened following an appeal filed by Honenu. Outside of the courthouse a demonstration was held. On Friday, May 16 a deliberation will take place at the Supreme Court of Israel on one of the other detainee’s ban on meeting with an attorney.
On Thursday, May 15 deliberations took place at the Lod District Court on the appeals filed by Honenu attorney Adi Kedar on the remand of the 18-year-old detained on Sunday, May 11 who, by a draconian measure, has been prevented from meeting with an attorney. The two appeals, one on the remand extension and the other on the ban on meeting with an attorney were rejected. Kedar filed an appeal with the Israeli Supreme Court on the ban on meeting with an attorney. On Friday, May 16 a deliberation will take place under the auspices of Supreme Court Justice Yoram Danziger.
At the Jerusalem District Court a deliberation took place on Thursday, May 15 on the appeal filed by Honenu on the minor detained on Wednesday, May 14 who has not yet been allowed to meet with an attorney. Attorney Ariel Atari represented the minor on behalf of Honenu and the court ruled that the ban on meeting with an attorney will be shortened, ending at 14:00 on Friday, May 16. Outside of the Jerusalem District Court relatives and friends of the detainees protested the refusal of the police to allow them to meet with an attorney. The protesters carried signs which read, “Human Rights Also For Jews”.
Later the minor detained on Wednesday, May 14 was brought to the Petah Tikva Magistrate Court where the police and GSS investigators requested an eight day remand extension. His remand was extended by one day by agreement with Honenu attorney Adi Kedar, who is representing him.
Additionally the 16-year-old minor detained on Sunday, May 11 was brought to the Petah Tikva Magistrate Court and his remand was extended until Monday, May 19. He is now being allowed to meet with an attorney. Attorney Barak Freidman is representing him on behalf of Honenu.
The youth detained by GSS investigators on Sunday, May 11 and also released the same day was brought to the GSS facility in Petah Tikva for interrogation on Thursday, May 15 for the fourth time in one week . He was released after the interrogation. The youth stated that the GSS interrogators made it clear to him that they would continue to hassle him with interrogations until “they got what they want out of me”.
Attorney Barak Friedman, who is representing one the detainees on behalf of Honenu, stated that, “After more than a few days of remand it seems that the picture is not becoming clearer and the investigation is not progressing. Despite this, due to severe limitations it is not possible to present the court with a clear report on the situation. This uncertainty is causing detainees to remain in remand for additional days under deplorable conditions, which is a severe violation of a suspect’s rights, regardless of the accusations with which he is charged.”
Honenu attorney Adi Kedar, who is representing two of the detainees, stated that, “We regard with severity the use of the extreme measure of preventing a meeting between a detainee and his attorney, especially when it is done for invalid reasons relating to political decisions and public opinion and not on legal grounds.”
Photos: Demonstration opposite the Jerusalem District Courthouse against the ban on detainees meeting with an attorney
Photo credit: Aharon Rubin, Honenu