For immediate release: 18/8/96

PALESTINIAN HIGH COURT ORDERS PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO RELEASE 10 BIR ZEIT STUDENTS FROM PRISON

(Jerusalem) Today, the Palestinian High Court in Ramallah ordered the release of ten Bir Zeit University students detained without charges since March in Ramallah prison under the Palestinian Authority. The ruling follows a petition filed by attorneys Khader Shkeirat and Elia Theodory on behalf of the students, against Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority and acting Minister of Interior, and Khaled el-Kidra, Attorney General for the Palestinian Authority. Attorneys Shkeirat and Theodory argued to the court today that the continued detention of the students without charges or trial violated their basic human rights to freedom, liberty, fair trial and the prohibition against arbitrary detention.

In its decision, the High Court ruled that there was no legal basis to justify continuing the students' detention, especially in light of the fact that no charges had been brought against them. Accordingly, the Court ordered their immediate release.

LAWE commends the Palestinian High Court for its ruling and for demonstrating judicial independence and fairness. LAWE calls on the Palestinian Authority to honor the Court's decision and release the students immediately and unconditionally.

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.