On Wednesday 23rd May 2001, Mr.
Adnan al-Hajjar, human rights lawyer and coordinator of our legal aid unit was released from prison.
He was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces on April 23rd and spent one month in prison.
We would like to share our joy with you and thank you most sincerely for your support and for having helped us to obtain his release.
However we would like to point out that his release confirms that his arrest was completely unjustified and that he was being held for intimidation and to obtain information.
No charge was brought against him during his time in prison and he was found guilty of no crime.
He was however subjected to severe mistreatment and torture.
He was investigated for periods of up to 20 hours, he was deprived of sleep and food and he was being pushed to confess the responsibility over things he did not do.
We would like to denounce the illegality of the arrest and the Israeli practice of using security as a way to justify any illegal activity.
We would like to thank the following organizations for their help and support:  Ad-Dameer Al-Haq Amnesty International Arab Lawyers’ Union Association for Civil Rights in Israel Birzeit University B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Center for Economic and Social Rights Democracy and Worker’s Rights Center in Palestine FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) Gaza Community Mental Health Project (GCMHP) Hamoked- Center for the Defense of the Individual LAW-The Palestinian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment Habitat International Coalition- Middle East and North Africa International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)- Sweden Lawyers Committee for Human Rights National Lawyers’ Guild- USA Norwegian People’s Aid World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) Palestine Monitor Palestinian Bar Association Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG) Palestinian Non-governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) Physicians for Human Rights Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) Universite Paris 7- Denis Diderot, UFR de Sciences Sociales We would also like to thank all the individuals who wrote to the Israeli government demanding Mr.
Adnan’s release and other organizations which we may have failed to mention.
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