Ofer
Ofer, Monday, 27.08.07Observers: Ronny H. and Tova Sh. (reporting)The hearing of the proof stage in the case of Ziyad Asshak Halil el Zahir did not take place; instead other trials were held on which we did not have any information.Courtroom 2: Two prisoners were brought in; there was no defense lawyer. The prisoners were taken away and the courtroom was closed.Courtroom 3: Appeal CourtThe appeal concerned the administrative detention of a detainee whose name did not appear on the trial roster. First we were moved from the first to the last row; the “order” was indicate by a finger. Next, a soldier was called to the judge’s table and after a short conversation between them the soldier asked us to leave the room, because the appeal concerned a classified administrative detention. We tried to address the judge but he would talk to us only through the soldier, who had taken us out of the room. We asked for the name of the defendant; the soldier went in to inquire whether he was allowed to give us the name and did not return. Courtroom 1: The roster of hearings contains names of 27 people. The judge allowed the defense lawyers time to consult with their clients and let the families hold long conversations with the detainees. The policeman escorting the prisoners decided to get tough with the lawyers and the families and to take everybody out of the room. The courtroom became a scene of many simultaneous activities: the trial, conversations between lawyers and their clients, including translation, talks with families. It was hard to follow the names and case numbers so I prefer not to report on the hearings.
Ofer
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Ofer The Military Court in the Ofer camp is located halfway between Ramallah and Jerusalem. The place has seven courtrooms, most of them spacious. This court is one of two courts of the "first instance", in addition to the military court in Salem. Here are the Palestinian hearings trials and some of the hearings in detention extensions. In addition, there is also a military court of appeals (on rulings of the courts of 'the first instance' in Salem and Ofer). Family members of detainees from the territories (usually only two family members) are allowed to enter the hearings but are prohibited from talking to the detainees. The families have at their disposal a waiting yard and a large, air-conditioned waiting room.
Jun-25-2024Ofer prison
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