Regarding the Re-Arrest of Citizen Mahmoud Adra and the Warning Against His Extradition to the French Authorities

The undersigned Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations express their deep concern over the re-arrest of the Palestinian citizen Mahmoud Khader Abdel Adra, also known as Hisham Harb, by the Palestinian security services, in a step that appears to be a prelude to procedures aimed at extraditing him to the French authorities.

We clearly and unequivocally affirm that the extradition of any Palestinian citizen to a foreign entity constitutes an explicit constitutional violation of the provisions of the amended Palestinian Basic Law, particularly Article (28), which states that :

“No Palestinian may be deported from the homeland, deprived of the right to return to it, prevented from leaving, stripped of citizenship, or extradited to any foreign entity.”

This constitutional provision is not subject to interpretation, suspension, or restriction. It represents a sovereign safeguard to protect citizens from any measures that infringe upon their right to remain in their homeland and to be subject to national jurisdiction.

The gravity of the situation is further heightened in light of information regarding the difficult health condition of the aforementioned citizen. This imposes a legal and moral obligation to ensure his physical and psychological safety, to provide the necessary medical care, and to refrain from subjecting him to any procedures that may worsen his condition or violate his right to health and a dignified life.

Accordingly, the undersigned organizations:

1. Strongly warn against proceeding with the extradition of Mr. Abdel Adra to any foreign entity under any pretext.
2. Call for his immediate release unless there are clear criminal charges that warrant his detention in accordance with Palestinian law.
3. Reiterate their demand that, should any criminal suspicion exist, he be tried exclusively before the competent Palestinian judiciary, with full guarantees of a fair trial as stipulated in the Basic Law and the international conventions to which the State of Palestine has acceded.

We call upon the Palestinian leadership, as well as all executive, security, and judicial authorities, to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Basic Law and to address this case within the national judicial framework, in a manner that safeguards sovereignty and preserves the dignity and constitutional rights of the Palestinian citizen

End