Abdallah Abu Rahma Sentenced
On 23 February 2015, human rights defender Mr Abdallah Abu Rahma was sentenced by the Ofer Israeli Military Court to four months imprisonment, suspended, and 5,000 Israeli Shekel (approximately €1,126). He had been convicted on charges of “disturbing a soldier on duty” and “obstructing military operations” on 21 October 2014, but the Court had postponed its decision regarding the sentence.
Abdallah Abu Rahma is a prominent human rights defender and the coordinator of the Bil’in Popular Committee against the Wall, which carries out activities in protest against the 'apartheid wall', or ‘security fence’ as Israel refers to it, constructed by the Israeli authorities. Abdallah Abu Rahma insists that the wall violates the economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people.
On 23 February 2015, human rights defender Mr Abdallah Abu Rahma was sentenced by the Ofer Israeli Military Court to four months imprisonment, suspended, and 5,000 Israeli Shekel (approximately €1,126). He had been convicted on charges of “disturbing a soldier on duty” and “obstructing military operations” on 21 October 2014, but the Court had postponed its decision regarding the sentence.
Abdallah Abu Rahma is a prominent human rights defender and the coordinator of the Bil’in Popular Committee against the Wall, which carries out activities in protest against the 'apartheid wall', or ‘security fence’ as Israel refers to it, constructed by the Israeli authorities. Abdallah Abu Rahma insists that the wall violates the economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people.
Abdallah Abu Rahma was initially arrested outside Ofer Military Prison on 13 May 2012 during a non-violent demonstration for Nakba day (a day commemorating the displacement of Palestinians before and after the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948), and in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners in administrative detention. It was reported that the human rights defender stood in front of bulldozers to prevent the Israeli army from setting up road blocks in front of the protesters, which commonly serve as a shield for army snipers and soldiers. Abdallah Abu Rahma was detained for a number of hours before being released on bail.
Nine months later, in February 2013, shortly after his involvement in the reconstruction of the Palestinian village of Ein Hijleh, Abdallah Abu Rahma was summoned to court and accused of the above-mentioned charges, in relation to the events of May 2012. More information on Abdallah Abu Rahma's case is available on his page on the Front Line Defenders' website.
Front Line Defenders reiterates its concern at the pattern of intimidation and harassment against Abdallah Abu Rahma. It is believed that his sentence is solely related to his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities promoting and protecting human rights in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
