Migrash Ha’Rusim Jerusalem, 29.12.05Observers: Shoshana A., Chava H.Translation: Ilene M.Extention of Detention This time they also made us wait outside for almost an hour until they let us in the courtroom, though we waited less than last time. It appears that we will really need to persist with this, and then it will become routine. The judge, an elderly reservist, said that we “probably wouldn’t get our just reward in this world, but in the next world we would be rewarded for our good deeds”. In short, it was not a very nice thing to hear. We entered a little after 10:45. It is a bit difficult to describe the “legal process” that takes place there. The lawyer was the same Mohammed Mukbal who told Hagit S. and I in a private conversation that we shouldn’t continue coming to detention extensions because there is no point to it and it is also humiliating. It appears that he is continuing in spite of things. He exchanged a few words with the police investigator and with the judge. The detainee was brought in, bound and handcuffed, and he blinked his eyes; later we found out why. As he was brought into the courtroom the policeman accompanying him removed his handcuffs. After two minutes in which nothing happened he was again handcuffed and taken out of the room. We saw and heard nothing but we were told that “there was agreement”. The agreement was an agreement by the lawyer to extend detention by 15 days. That’s it! The second detainee. The lawyer was Fahmi Awiwi whom we had met the previous time. All of the lawyers work for the organization “Ansar El Sagin” which supports religious prisoners, though none of today’s prisoners were religious. The second detainee was not brought into the courtroom because he was “prevented” from seeing a lawyer. His lawyer asks to look at the secret material before the judge and says that he cannot defend his client if he doesn’t know what he is suspected of. His request is refused. At this point, all of the lawyers left the courtroom but we were not asked to leave, as in the previous time. The detainee, a resident of Ramallah, was brought in and he requested to see his lawyer. He was told that it is impossible. The judge dictated his decision: I am aware of the fact that the suspect is prevented from meeting with his lawyer, and as a result his lawyer is searching in the dark. Even so, the investigation has just begun; the suspicions are very severe. My opinion is that the investigation is proceeding properly and more time is needed to bring it to a proper conclusion. On the other hand, we must weigh the continuation of the court’s supervision on the period of detention. In weighing both sides one against the other, I have decided to lengthen detention by 15 days. Third detainee – Taleb Nimer Boji. Attorney Andre Rosenthal. The attorney says that the detainee is in need of an additional medical examination and an eye examination because he is danger of losing his eyesight. The judge’s decision: A doctor of the court will check him and give him all necessary care. At this stage, Shosh saw why all the detainees blink as they enter the lighted courtroom. They are led through the court with their eyes blindfolded. Inside the courtroom their blindfolds and handcuffs are taken off. After taking everything off they are put on again and the detainee is taken away. As far as extending detention – here there was full agreement and there was no deliberation between the lawyer or judge or investigator. Fourth detainee. He was also prevented from meeting with his lawyer, Mohammed Mukbal. The deliberation takes place with the lawyer without the detainee. The lawyer tries to question the police investigator. Where was the man arrested? The lackadaisical investigator answers that arrests are made by the army, not by the police, and so he cannot answer the question. Lawyer: The detainee spent the last eight years abroad. Was he arrested in Israel or abroad? No answer. Everything in the report is secret; it is secret because it is secret. How many hours or days has he been investigated? No answer. Here, the judge interferes and tells the lawyer that there really is nothing he can do. The investigation has just begun, the report is secret and he cannot be told anything. At this point, the lawyer went out of the courtroom and all of a sudden, we were asked to leave. But then the judge interfered and said that we were, after all, nice women who wanted to see that everything was fine; we don’t know anything about the secret report in front of him; we will not be able to report on the big secrets held within, so there is no reason to ask us to leave the courtroom. We stayed. The detainee was brought in. he didn’t have anything to say. The decision: “I am aware of the difficulties a lawyer has when he doesn’t know anything about the suspicions held against his client. Suspicions are very severe; the suspect has given his version.” We heard this mantra during the entire time that we were there and we could rest assured that “the judge is assured that the investigation is proceeding properly and requests more time for the continuation of the investigation etc. etc. …judicial supervision……as I weigh……detention extended by 15 days.Fifth detainee: the same ceremony. Enters, blinks, his handcuffs and blindfold are removed. We met him last time; he was the one with the cast on his leg. He doesn’t have anything to say to the court. There is agreement as to the extension of detention. Bravo! The routine is broken. Only 11 days. His blindfold and handcuffs are returned and he’s taken away. It all took less than a minute.Sixth detainee. Ceremony, eyes, handcuffs. His attorney tells him that there is already an agreement about the extension of detention, eyes, handcuffs, taken away.Seventh detainee. This time they really “went wild” A 12 day detention extension with the regular ceremony (eyes, handcuffs, bench). It took a minute and a half.Eight detainee. Attorney Shukhri. He succeeded in having the court agree to bring in the detainee’s mother and she enters. The detainee is brought in, ceremony, and then mom. Hugs and kisses, a few quick sentences, a few more quick sentences, a caress. He tries hard to calm her down and tell her it will be OK. There is agreement as to the extension of detention. Final ceremony (eyes, handcuffs, it must be very hard for her to see this). Final hugs and kisses. In between the kisses of the meeting and the kisses of the parting one minute passed. As I write this, my heart is breaking. And so it went on and on. There were 11 detainees. I rest assured, severe suspicions, secret report, for the purposes of the investigation, and everything by agreement.