Israeli court delays detention order against Ra’ed Salah

The Supreme Court of Israel has ruled to freeze the detention order against the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, until the completion of legal measures, Anadolu agency has reported.

The lawyer representing the Islamic Movement, Zahi Jidat, told Anadolu that: “This decision came in the wake of filing two applications for the Israeli Court by the defensive committee, calling for the delay of the detention and allowing the committee to appeal against it.”

On 27 October, the Israeli Central Court ordered the detention of Sheikh Salah after accusing him of “inciting violence”.

Hours before attending the hearing, Salah posted a message on his Facebook page declaring that: “Whatever is intended to be does not change me… This is my response… Today, I might be turned directly to the prison after this hearing.”

He continued: “I have never said that we do not like prisons, but we do not fear it if it is a tax for defending Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

In 2013, the Israeli Prosecution accused Sheikh Salah of inciting violence and hatred. He was charged by the Israeli Magistrate Court for inciting violence but cleared for the charge of inciting hatred. The court sentenced him for eight months in prison.