Ofer - Membership/activity in unauthorized association, Popular Struggle

Translation: Marganit W.

“As a student at Abu Dis University, the defendant was an active member of Kutla Al-Isslamiya (Hamas Student Organization). She approached other students inviting them to attend religious classes… she also took part in organizational activity including exhibitions, and distributing books and gifts to students.”

(From the protocol).

Judge: Major Etty Adar

Prosecutor: Lieut. Kfir Whitman

Defense: Atty. Ashraf Abu Sneina

Defendant: Nur Ahmad Abdullah Darwish – ID 411110319

Nur Darwish is a student at Abu Dis University. Every Israeli university has student organizations of various ideological stripes, but in Palestine Israel limits those associations.

Nur was arrested in April 2016 with other students.

Today her sentence was handed down, as part of a plea bargain:

8 months in prison, beginning with the day of arrest, 12 months suspended sentence for 3 years for the same violation, and 2000-shekel fine or 2 months in jail.

Nur’s father came to the hearing. He was happy to hear that Nur would be released in a few days and paid the fine promptly.

In 2003 a group of youngsters established a community center in Hebron. In 2008 the name was changed to “Young People Against the Settlements”. Activities include teaching Hebrew and  English, help in fixing houses, non-violent resistance and photography and video workshops. Needless to say these activities are fiercely resented by the settlers.

Issa Amru , one of the principal activists at the center, has been arrested many times. All the police investigations against him have been closed.

At present he is released on bail.

The court was crowded with human rights activists who came to support Issa, who is known around the world.

The judge was Lieut. Col. Menahem Lieberman.

Issa was represented by Atty. Gaby Laski.

Atty. Laski opened by invoking “abuse of process” including claim of delay. She requested the court to erase clauses in earlier files that were closed after investigation.

When Issa was arrested in 2016 the prosecution decided to dredge up charges from the past. Atty. Laski explained that Issa is a human rights activist, inspired by an ideology of non-violent resistance. All actions attributed to him were part of legitimate protest.

It was decided that the prosecution would respond in writing by 21.12.16.