Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian arrested: Jerusalem Magistrates' Court to hear state's request for the extension of her detention tomorrow, Friday, 19 April at 9:30 am
Today, 18 April 2024, Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian was arrested in her home in the Old City of Jerusalem, reportedly for incitement to terrorism, violence, and racism. During the arrest, the police also confiscated her mobile phone, computer, documents, and books by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish from her house.
Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, a Palestinian citizen of Israel and an internationally renowned professor at the Faculty of Law-Institute of Criminology and the School of Social Work and Public Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Global Chair in Law- Queen Mary University of London.
She came under fire after joining over 1,000 researchers in signing a call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. This harassment followed a campaign of incitement by students, right-wing activists, and politicians who also accused her of doubting whether sexual assaults were committed by Hamas on 7 October.
Tomorrow, at 9:30 AM, a hearing will be held at the Jerusalem Magistrates Court to consider the police’s request to extend her detention. She will be represented by attorneys Alaa Mahajana, and Adalah's General Director Dr. Hassan Jabareen.
In response, Adalah commented:
“The arrest of Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian is an egregious violation of her rights, motivated by an agenda of incitement, political persecution, and racism. Her opinions and speech are protected under the right of freedom of expression and academic freedom. The decision of the State Attorney’s Office to pursue an investigation against her flagrantly violates her right to freedom of expression, contradicts the rule of law, and appears to be unduly influenced by the radical right-wing. Since 7 October, the Israeli police have been implementing a racist and oppressive policy towards Palestinians severely violating their freedom of expression rights. The police have carried out widespread, and at times brutal, arrests targeting Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem for alleged speech-related offenses, despite lacking grounds for investigation, arrest, or prosecution. Meanwhile, state authorities have glaringly failed to investigate and prosecute clear instances of incitement to violence, terrorism, and racism against Palestinians carried out by Jewish Israelis, along with explicit calls for genocide in Gaza.”
Photo by: Arab48
