Sheikh Raed Salah defence team call to end his solitary confinement

The defence team of the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, has called on the free people of the world, legal institutions, human rights organisations and civil society groups to put pressure on Israel to stop its violations of his rights, including putting an end to his solitary confinement.

Sheikh Salah has been held in solitary confinement since he was jailed by Israel on 15 August last year, the defence team said in a statement, noting that he has been not allowed access to books and other necessities without justification. This, they added are a form of torture that is legally prohibited and violates humanitarian and international laws.

The defence team called on the Israeli prison authorities to immediately stop the systematic harassment of Sheikh Salah and provide him access to his daily necessities without restrictions, conditions or delay.

Salah was detained by Israeli forces in August 2017 and indicted for incitement following his criticism of the erection of metal detectors at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

He was sentenced to 28 months in prison by an Israeli court. He served 11 months, half of which was spent in solitary confinement, before he was moved to house arrest.

After two years under house arrest, in August 2020, Salah began a 17-month jail term on incitement charges.

READ: The Israeli political circus