Badie Dweik threatened
On 24 February 2017, Israeli soldiers came to the home of Badie Dweik at around 1:00 am and threatened him and his colleagues with arrest if they participated in a peaceful protest taking place that same day as part of the “Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron” campaign. The Israeli soldiers were filmed as they entered the human rights defender’s home and aggressively demanded that the camera be immediately turned off.
Badie Dweik is a human rights defender who organises campaigns for the protection of human rights defenders in Hebron and calls for an end to Israeli occupation. The human rights defender has established many NGOs that organise peaceful actions calling for the Palestinian right to self-determination. He is a leading member of "Human Rights Defenders in Palestine". Badie Dweik also collaborates with the Hebron team of human rights observers brought by the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. His work involves documenting and providing information on violations committed against Palestinians. He also provides training on protection for human rights defenders, particularly in the Hebron governorate.
On 24 February 2017, Israeli soldiers came to the home of Badie Dweik at around 1:00 am and threatened him and his colleagues with arrest if they participated in a peaceful protest taking place that same day as part of the “Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron” campaign. The Israeli soldiers were filmed as they entered the human rights defender’s home and aggressively demanded that the camera be immediately turned off.
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In the early morning of 24 February 2017, Israeli occupation forces banged on the door of Badie Dweik’s home and as they entered they demanded that all of the residents of the house, including the children, be brought down to the ground floor. Badie Dweik began filming immediately but, as his footage illustrates, he was then pushed to a corner and asked to immediately turn off the camera. The soldiers surrounded Badie Dweik in a corner and prevented any of his family from leaving their rooms and witnessing their interaction. The soldiers then warned Badie Dweik that he and other activists would be arrested if they participated in a peaceful protest taking place later that day. A peaceful protest was planned as part of an annual campaign called “Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron.” This campaign calls for the right to life and freedom of movement in Hebron and commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre and subsequent closure of Shuhada Street. Badie Dweik told the soldiers that they had no legal grounds for the home invasion nor for denying him the right to participate in a peaceful protest.
The human rights defender is regularly harassed and threatened by Israeli forces in an attempt to deter him from his human rights work. Two incidents were documented in 2016 showing Israeli soldiers harassing and intimidating Badie Dweik. In one incident, the human rights defender is prevented from walking in Hebron city, as can be seen here. In the other incident, a soldier threatened Badie Dweik and his family at their home while they were held at gun point. A video of this incident can be seen here.
Front Line Defenders condemns the harassment of human rights defender Badie Dweik by Israeli soldiers and is concerned at the continued attempt to obstruct the work of human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful work.
Front Line Defenders urges the Israeli authorities to:
1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the intimidation and threats against Badie Dweik, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
2. Stop all forms of harassment against Badie Dweik and all other human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Hebron specifically;
3. Ensure the safety of Badie Dweik and all other human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ;
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
