Criminal Justice

Due Process | Prison Conditions | Prisoner and Detainee Rights


Israel's treatment of prisoners and detainees consistently violates their rights to a fair trial, to legal counsel, and to human dignity throughout the detention process. These violations apply disproportionately to Arab citizens of Israel, and to Palestinians living under occupation in the OPT. Despite Israel's claims, its laws impose brutal and inhumane treatment on those incarcerated in its prisons. Many Palestinian detainees are held in Israel, unable to be visited by their families, and in violation of international law.

Adalah's litigation targets severe policies such as 'administrative detention' and the classification of 'security detainees'. Individuals thus classified can be prevented from meeting with legal counsel for long periods of time; can be convicted on secret evidence; can have their imprisonment extended indefinitely and arbitrarily; and often are not formally charged with any crime. Other Adalah litigation attempts to defend basic rights of detainees, such as to pursue an education and to family visits; and to ensure accountability by requesting audio and video recordings of all interrogations.

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A complete list of cases is available here:


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HCJ 1482/08 Adalah et al. v. The Israel Prison Service, et al.
Appeal 6990/01, Mohammad Zayed v. The Prison Authority
Request for Appeal 3187/02, Abd el-Rahim Masarweh v. Israel Prisons Authority
HCJ 7837/04, Lila Bourgal, et. al. v. The Israel Prison Service, et. al.
HCJ 7867/04, Fida Kawaer, et. al. v. The Israel Prison Service
HCJ 5613/06, Attorney Fadi Qawasmi, et. al. v. The Israel Prison Service
HCJ 3595/08 Adalah and the Legal Clinic for Prisoners' Rights and Rehabilitation v. The Israel Prison Service and the Ministry of Education
Ashkelon Magistrate Court, Motions 2080/06-105138/10 State of Israel v Sheikh Ra'ed Salah et al
Nazareth District Court, P.P. 439/09 Walid Dakka et al. v. The Israel Prison Service
HCJ 2028/08 Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, et al. v. The Minister of Justice, et al.
HCJ 3239/02 Ead Mohammed es-Haq Moreb v. Commander of Israeli Army in the West Bank
Beer el-Sebe Magistrates' Court, Cause of Death Investigation 1001/04 In Re. Hamad Dibsan, Deceased