The former mayor of Tafilah, Sheikh Ahmad al-Zarqan, has now spent 200 days in arbitrary detention.
Al-Zarqan, aged 73, suffers from several chronic illnesses, including diabetes and hypertension — conditions that make his prolonged detention a growing source of concern for his family.
According to widely circulated information, his detention is believed to be linked to his charitable and financial support for families in Gaza during the ongoing war on the Strip, raising questions about the boundaries of lawful humanitarian and relief work within this context.
Detaining a person for an extended period without charge, or referring them to the judiciary, stands in clear conflict with established legal principles requiring that any deprivation of liberty be based on a clear and declared accusation, and that the accused be tried before a competent court with the ability to review the legality of the detention.
Moreover, the continuation of such detention without urgent legal justification reinforces concerns regarding its arbitrariness, particularly when applied outside the framework of judicial oversight. This bypassing of legal safeguards undermines essential guarantees of due process and erodes the core of the rule of law.
The severity of the violation increases when the detainee is an elderly person suffering from chronic health conditions that require continuous care and a proper medical environment — factors that add serious humanitarian implications to the case.
The ongoing detention of Sheikh Ahmad al-Zarqan without charge raises significant legal and human rights concerns, requiring either the presentation of any alleged accusations transparently before the judiciary, or his immediate release to prevent further harm to his rights and physical well-being, especially given his age and medical condition.
Respect for due process remains a fundamental pillar of public trust in the justice system. Any deviation from these safeguards opens the door to legitimate concerns regarding personal liberty and the protection of individual rights.
