Israel/OPT: Further Information: NGO Worker's Detention Renewed: Ayman Nasser
On 11 September 2019, the Israeli Ofer Military Court in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) approved the renewal of Ayman Nasser’s administrative detention for a further four months. His detention is now expected to end on 4 January 2020. Ayman Nasser has been detained since 17 September 2018, without charge or trial in Ofer prison, near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Ayman Nasser is the legal unit coordinator of Palestinian NGO Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Right Association.
Third UA 171/18 Index: MDE 15/1076/2019 Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories Date: 25 September 2019
URGENT ACTION
NGO WORKER’S DETENTION RENEWED
On 11 September 2019, the Israeli Ofer Military Court in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT) approved the renewal of Ayman Nasser’s administrative detention for a
further four months. His detention is now expected to end on 4 January 2020. Ayman
Nasser has been detained since 17 September 2018, without charge or trial in Ofer prison,
near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Ayman Nasser is the legal unit coordinator of
Palestinian NGO Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Right Association.
TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER
Major-General Nadav Padan
GOC Central Command
Military Post 01149
Battalion 877
Fax: + 972 2 530 5741
Email: 1111@idf.gov.il
Dear Major-General Nadav Padan,
On 8 September 2019, the office of the General Officer Commander (GOC) Central Command issued another four-
month administrative detention order against Ayman Nasser, which was approved by the Ofer Military Court, near the
city of Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) on 11 September. Ayman Nasser is the legal unit
coordinator of Palestinian human rights NGO Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. According
to Ayman Nasser’s family, he suffers from health issues including inflammation in his colon and severe back pain due
to a herniated disk in the lower back. He needs regular medical treatment and checks by specialized doctors, which
he has failed to receive.
Amnesty International is gravely concerned that the system of administrative detention, as practised by Israel, violates
human rights; its use may result in arbitrary detention, and if prolonged or repeated can amount to cruel, inhuman
and degrading treatment or punishment.
I urge you to immediately release Ayman Nasser, and all others who have been placed under administrative detention,
unless they are promptly charged with an internationally recognizable crime and tried in proceedings that adhere to
international fair trial standards. I urge you to immediately provide Ayman Nasser access to adequate healthcare,
including treatment by specialized doctors, and to take immediate steps to end the practice of administrative
detention.
Yours sincerely,
Third UA 171/18 Index: MDE 15/1076/2019 Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories Date: 25 September 2019
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On 9 September 2018, Ayman Nasser was arrested by Israeli forces during an overnight raid at his home in the village of Saffa,
near Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Ayman Nasser, a 48-year-old father of four, has been working for
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Right Association since 2008, first as a researcher and later as the legal unit coordinator.
He is also the chairperson and co-founder of the Handalah Cultural Centre in the village of Saffa, which was established in 1998
to provide the youth of the village with dance, sports, art and educational programs. Ayman Nasser holds a BA degree in Social
Work and a graduate degree in educational Socio-Psychology from al-Quds University in Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem.
From 1992 to 1997, Ayman Nasser served a five-year prison sentence imposed by an Israeli military court following charges related
to his political activism including membership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a left-wing political party
with an armed wing that is banned by Israel. Since his release he has been arrested two times, on 15 October 2012, when he was
sentenced for similar charges, after a plea bargain to 13 months in prison; and on 18 September 2014, when he was held in
administrative detention for a year.
Amnesty International has documented an escalation of acts of intimidation by the Israeli government against Palestinian civil
society organizations and human rights activists in the OPT, including Addameer. On 19 September 2019, at around 2 am, the
office of Addameer was raided by Israeli forces, seizing computers, hard drives, files and equipment. This was the third time its
offices were raided by Israeli forces; previous raids took place in 2002 and 2012.
Over the years, Israeli authorities have arrested and detained many Addameer staff members. An additional five staff members from
the organization are currently banned by the Israeli authorities from travelling abroad. Civil society is facing continued attacks,
through restrictive legislation and governmental policies coupled with smear campaigns aimed at delegitimizing human rights work.
In the crackdown on civil society, Israeli authorities have targeted organizations calling for an end to Israel’s occupation and
accountability for crimes under international law, including through boycotts as a form of advocacy.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English, Hebrew or Arabic
You can also write in your own language.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 6 November 2019
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.
NAME AND PREFERRED PRONOUN: Ayman Nasser (him/his)
LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/0012/2019/en/