Family of Palestinian parliament speaker call for his release

The family of the head of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Aziz Duweik called for national and international rights groups to put pressure on Israel to release him from prison, where he has spent seven month.

Najlaa Othman, Duweik’s wife, said yesterday that her husband is suffering from hyper tension, diabetes and kidney pains. Duweik, who is over than 70 years old, needs periodic medical examinations.

Othman said she was surprised that the issue of arresting Palestinian parliamentarians has been absent from the international arena. She said she was also surprised as there has been no official action to tell the world about this issue. She lamented the weak popular support.

Duweik’s wife said Israel had adjourned her husband’s trial to February 2 and this was the seventh time it was postponed without a reason being given. She noted that her husband is facing charges of giving a speech marking Hamas’ anniversary in the occupied West Bank.

Othman said Israel only allowed the family to visit Duweik two months ago, stressing that arresting her husband and banning such visits is a violation of his parliamentary immunity, while the delay in his trial proves the illegality of the measures Israel is using against him.

Duweik has been the head of the PLC since 2006. Israel has arrested him on four occasions.