Israel hears testimonies on charges against Sheikh Raed Salah

The Israeli Magistrate Court in the northern city of Haifa yesterday held a session to hear from witnesses for the prosecution regarding charges against the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah.

Sheikh Salah’s lawyer, Khaled Zbarqa, said that the Israeli court heard from an Israeli woman who had translated several articles for the defendant, one of which was used by the Israeli prosecution to accuse Salah of incitement.

Poster of Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in Israel

The incitement accusation, Zbarqa explained, was based on an article entitled “Netanyahu’s paranoia”, which dates back to 2016, and another on the selling of the cemetery of one of the most important icons of Palestinian resistance, Sheikh Izz Ad-Din Al-Qassam.

READ: Israel court approves conditional release of Sheikh Raed Salah

“Israel claims that the articles incite to violence and support terrorism,” he said.

The court, the lawyer noted, had postponed the additional hearing, which was scheduled today, to October, November and December. He pointed out the Sheikh Salah, who was recently placed under house arrest, was present during yesterday’s hearing.

“My client’s case was based on wrong and fake foundations and was set up to detain him,” Zbarqa pointed out, adding that “he spent 11 months in detention and is currently under house arrest.”

Sheikh Salah was arrested from his house on 25 August 2017 and was indicted nine days later by the Israeli Public Prosecution. He was accused of 12 charges, including violating the law and inciting terror.