Amnesty International calls for immediate release of academic in Israeli jail

Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of the Palestinian administrative prisoner, Ahmed Qatamesh, considering him a “prisoner of conscience,” who was jailed for expressing his opinion.

The Israeli occupation intelligence, Shabak, accuse Qatamesh of being a senior activist who affiliates to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. However, he is an academic, lecturer and specialist in political and social issues. He calls for the one-state solution.

Qatamesh has been under administrative detention for two years. He has not been charged with anything. Shabak claims: “He shares terrorist activities that pose danger on Israel’s security.”

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that during an appeal session for Qatamesh before the Israeli military court, he asked for all available information against him.

Shabak claims that the Israeli military court in the West Bank approved Qatamesh’s administrative detention. All appeals filed against his detention have been repealed; the most recent was three weeks ago when the Supreme Court repealed it claiming that the jurors had seen secret charges against him.

Qatamesh is one among 160 Palestinian prisoners serving administrative detention in Israeli jails. It is worth mentioning that Palestinian prisoners receive derogatory and inhumane treatment by the Israeli prison service.

Two prisoners have died recently, one from torture and the other because of medical negligence.