Friends, Id like to share with you some excellent news. I usually post only depressing news from Israel and the Middle East, but today I can report that the Israeli High Court of Justice voided the 4th amendment to the Anti-Infiltration Law. This law mandated INDEFINITE detention for asylum-seekers with almost no way of being released other than agreeing to go back to ones homeland - thus risking persecution, torture and death. In a 2-7 ruling, the judges decided to shut down the Holot internment camp that Israel constructed in the desert for asylum-seekers who sought refuge in Israel from oppression in Eritrea and genocide and ethnic cleansing in Sudan. Many of my friends will be released in 90 days as a result of this ruling, unless the Israeli Knesset decides to pass another amendment (after the 3rd and 4th amendments to the law were voided by the High Court). Over 2,000 people whose mental health deteriorated in indefinite detention will be free. The 50,000 asylum-seekers inside Israel will no longer fear being summoned to internment in the desert. I am proud of the work the human rights organization I work for, the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants - Israel, did to bring this day about. Im so happy that the Supreme Court in Israel, under constant attack by the Right, which is attempting to limit the powers of the Court, decided that it cannot allow Israel to maintain a policy of indefinite detention of people whove been convicted of no crime. HURRAY!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:32:40 +0000
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