MUSAWA Supports and Endorses the Decision of the Bar Association to Suspend Work Before the High Criminal Court

Date 2019-04-20

LOCATION West Bank and Gaza Strip

Category Human Rights Defenders / West Bank / Gaza / position paper

MUSAWA Supports and Endorses the Decision of the Bar Association to Suspend Work before the High Criminal Court

On Sunday, lawyers are anticipated to suspend their work before the High Criminal Court in adherence with the Palestinian Bar Association’s decision, which provided for suspending the work before the court in protest against its performance that affects the fair trial guarantees and the right of defense. However, the lawyers broadened the scope of their demands to include the abolition of the court and the decree-law on its regard.

In its statement calling for suspending work, the Association noted the failure to respond to all its demands, in particular, the demand to amend the decree-law establishing the court. The failure resulted in the negative performance of the court, which threatens the freedoms and rights of both the civilians and lawyers.

MUSWA- the Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession reaffirms its support for the position of the Palestinian Bar Association, hoping to broaden the communal demand, which includes lawyers, citizens, CBOs, and social actors towards putting pressure on the decision makers and the president to abolish the decree-law establishing the High Criminal Court.

MUSAWA also recalls its position paper, in which it demonstrated the threats of the amended decree-law that was drafted after the opposition that faced its first drat, as a number of CBOs including MUSAWA, issued a public opinion memo, in which they indicated the risk of establishing such court, and the contradiction between the decree-law governing it and the Palestinian Basic Law, the constitutional principles, public rights and freedoms, including the fair trial guaranteed, equality before the law and the judiciary, the right of defense, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the principles of impartial litigation, and the international bill of rights binding the State of Palestine.

Thus, we hope that all sister organizations, public and political figures, women and youth representatives, and the Palestinian Bar Association to unite behind the abolishment of the decree-law on the High Criminal court and dissolving the court.

Issued on 20/4/2019

MUSWA- The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession