Israel slammed for detention of human rights activist

25 September 2009

The UK human rights charity War on Want has today called on the Israeli authorities to immediately release Mohammad Othman, a prominent Palestinian human rights activist arrested this week and currently being detained without charge.

Mr Othman, a 33-year-old human rights activist and advocate of the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign (BDS), was arrested on 22 September on his return from Norway, where he was promoting a BDS campaign.

He is currently being held in administrative detention, not being told of the charges against him. The Israeli authorities have scheduled his hearing for Tuesday 29 September in a military court.

It is believed that Othman is the first Palestinian to be imprisoned by Israel in response to BDS advocacy activity.

War on Want today accused the Israeli government of targeting and intimidating Palestinian activists who are promoting boycott and sanctions movements against Israel.

Yasmin Khan, Senior Campaigns Officer at War on Want, said: "War on Want condemns the arrest and detention of Mohammad Othman by the Israeli authorities, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. It is unacceptable for Israel to be targeting Palestinian human right defenders with such intimidation."

Othman is involved with War on Want partner Stop the Wall, the grassroots anti-Apartheid Wall campaign, and has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to the defence of Palestinian human rights. His village, Jayyous, in the occupied West Bank, has lost most of its fertile agricultural land to Israel's illegal Wall and settlements.

For more information, please contact Yasmin Khan at War on Want on +44 (0)20 7549 0592.

Notes to Editors

1. War on Want has made representations about Mr Othman to the British Consul General in East Jerusalem, and to the Israeli embassy in London.

Tags: campaigns | fighting occupation