Print Date: October 8, 2026 ||
Publish Date: October 8, 2026
Palestinian journalist held in solitary cell for 46 days
International Desk ||
A
33-year-old Palestinian journalist, Bushra al-Taweel, has reportedly been held
in solitary confinement for 46 consecutive days at Israel’s Ohalei Oz prison in
the southern city of Beersheba, according to Palestinian prisoner rights
groups.Al-Taweel
was previously held at Damon Prison in Haifa and Neve Tirza Prison in central
Israel. She has reportedly been transferred between prisons several times.Lawyers denied regular accessThe
Palestinian Prisoners Society, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights
Association, and the PLO’s Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs
said her repeated transfers have prevented her lawyers from meeting her
regularly.On
Wednesday, a lawyer was reportedly informed that al-Taweel had again been moved
to another location, resulting in the cancellation of a scheduled visit.Held without charge or trialAccording
to the organisations, al-Taweel has been detained since February under an
administrative detention order without formal charges or trial.Administrative
detention allows authorities to hold a person without filing formal charges or
conducting a trial. The groups described al-Taweel as one of the better-known
Palestinian women detainees to have been held under administrative detention in
recent years.Concerns over prolonged solitary confinementThe
prisoner rights groups have raised concerns about al-Taweel’s prolonged
solitary confinement, saying it may violate international standards.The
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as
the Nelson Mandela Rules, prohibit prolonged or indefinite solitary
confinement. The rules define solitary confinement lasting more than 15 days as
prolonged solitary confinement.Al-Taweel
has reportedly spent 46 days in isolation, well beyond that threshold.The
Palestinian organisations said prolonged isolation could pose serious risks to
detainees’ mental health. They also alleged that the practice of isolating
Palestinian prisoners, particularly women, has increased in recent months.According
to the groups, such conditions may also prevent detainees from learning about
the allegations against them and challenging their detention through legal
means.Call for international interventionThe
organisations have called on international bodies to intervene immediately.They
have specifically urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to work
towards ending al-Taweel’s solitary confinement and securing her release.Her father was also detainedAl-Taweel’s
father, Jamal al-Taweel, was also an administrative detainee and spent several
years in Israeli prisons.According
to Palestinian prisoner rights organisations, around 9,500 Palestinians are
currently detained in Israeli prisons. They say the figure includes around 90
women and more than 350 children.Sources:
Middle East Monitor and Anadolu Agency
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