Palestinian human rights group worried about PA military courts

The Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq put out a statement on Wednesday indicating that the rights group believes the use of military courts by the Palestinian Authority could lead the Authority down a slippery slope toward authoritarianism.

The group stated that the use of these courts against civilians “might lead towards an authoritarian regime, at the expenses of the fundamental rights and freedoms of Palestinians, the rule of law and the independency of the judiciary.”

 

The statement of Al Haq comes as the Fateh party attempts to assert control of the Palestinian government (under Israeli occupation).  The Fateh party has been supported by Israel in its attempts to take back control of the government from the democratically-elected Hamas government since 2006.

 

Stronghanded tactics by the Fateh security forces have been asserted by Palestinians who support Hamas.  In addition, the Fateh security forces have been accused of unlawful arrests of civilians.

 

According to Al Haq, “Several calls and statements have been sent to the Palestinian president and prime minister as well as the Ministry of Justice and general prosecution, to stop military judiciary intervention in the civil judiciary. Despite this, the military judiciary still violates and intervene in civil judiciary jurisdiction.”

 

Israeli authorities have pushed the Fateh party to make arrests of Palestinians that Israel considers dangerous, in an attempt to have the Palestinian Authority carry out the objectives and actions of the Israeli military occupation.

 

The Al-Haq organization specifically called for the Palestinian Authority to implement a ruling made on the 28th of August by the Palestinian High Court of Justice that would end the jurisdiction over civilians of the Military Attorney General and Military Judiciary.