The European Union called for the immediate release of Mohammad Halabi, a Palestinian prisoner in Israeli occupation prisons.
In a press statement, the EU stated that “Mohamad Halabi must be released as soon as possible if his guilt is not proven,” stressing that “Int’ law requires a swift, fair and impartial judicial process. Halabi cannot continuously be held in detention if charges cannot be substantiated. The trial should conclude now and unless proven guilty, Halabi must be released as soon as possible”.
The EU pointed out that ‘EUREP, member states & likeminded countries received a briefing on Mohammed Halabi’s case from his lawyer & int’ partners. He has been in prison for over 5 yrs without a verdict. On 8 Feb, Supreme Court will decide if his detention will be extended for the 23rd time’
The occupation has continued the trial of Mohammad Halabi, 44, for more than five years in a row, and more than 160 court sessions have been held for him to date.
The prisoner Halabi was the director of the “World Vision” Foundation, and he was recently awarded an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in Germany for his humanitarian work.
Halabi was arrested on June 15, 2016 and was subjected to a harsh interrogation and physical and psychological torture, which lasted for 52 days. He was denied access to his lawyer, in an attempt to pressure him and extract confessions of him. He had lost half of his hearing due to the severe torture he was subjected to during his interrogation.
Halabi, who is married and father of five, has been receiving support from many international bodies which demanded his release, including the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Michael Lynk, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in addition to parliamentarians from Australia and Canada.
Until the end of December 2021, the number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in the occupation prisons reached approximately 4,600, including about 500 administrative prisoners, 34 female prisoners and 160 minors, according to institutions concerned with prisoners’ affairs.
