Ahmad Manasra
Ahmad Manasra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002 (age 21–22) |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
Ahmad Manasra is a 22-year-old Palestinian who was arrested in 2015 at the age of 13 in relation to the Pisgat Ze'ev stabbings in an Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem.[1][2]
He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in connection with a stabbing incident in which his cousin, Hassan, critically wounded a 13-year-old Israeli boy and stabbed an Israeli man. Hassan was shot dead by police, while Ahmad was run over by a car and beaten by passers by. Although Ahmed had brandished a knife in the incident, he was not found to have assaulted either of the victims. His case drew attention for the harshness of the sentence given Ahmed's age, the use of solitary confinement during his detention, and the severe mental health impact of his custodial treatment.[3][4]
Ahmed's case has drawn strong international condemnation from human rights groups, which have raised concerns about the violations of international laws prohibiting torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and have called for his early release.
Arrest and imprisonment
[edit]Manasra was arrested in 2015 at the age of 13 in relation to the Pisgat Ze'ev stabbings, which involved the stabbing and injury of two people in an Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem.[1] Despite being found not to have participated in the stabbings, he was convicted of attempted murder in 2016 and sentenced to prison.[1]
During his time in prison, Manasra has been subjected to serious violations of his rights, including being interrogated without the presence of his lawyer or parent, enduring insults, threats, and harsh treatment.[1] He has also suffered from solitary confinement, which has significantly impacted his mental health, leading to diagnoses of schizophrenia, psychosis, severe depression, and suicidal thoughts.[1][5]
Despite his deteriorating condition, the Israeli authorities have repeatedly extended his solitary confinement, disregarding the warnings of independent psychiatrists about the risks to his life.[1][6][7]
Manasra's treatment in prison has been characterized by inhumane conditions, prolonged isolation, and a lack of proper medical care, raising concerns about violations of international law regarding torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.[1]
International response
[edit]The international response to the case of Manasra has been marked by strong condemnation and calls for his immediate release. Human rights experts and organizations, including the UN, as well as numerous mental health groups, have urged Israel to free Manasra due to the serious violations of his rights and the inhumane treatment he has endured.[8][citation needed]
UN human rights experts have criticized Israel for Ahmad's detention, highlighting that it violates international humanitarian law and that his imprisonment has deprived him of his childhood and essential rights.They emphasized the urgent need for Ahmad to receive necessary mental health care and counseling, especially considering his deteriorating condition.[8]
The UK-Palestine Mental Health Network, USA-Palestine Mental Health Network, France-Palestine Mental Health Network, Ireland-Palestine Mental Health Network, and South Africa-Palestine Mental Health Network have all advocated for his immediate release.[citation needed]
Amnesty International has condemned the solitary confinement of Manasra as a violation of the absolute prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.[9]
Amnesty's reports have also highlighted Manasra's case as part of a broader pattern of discrimination against Palestinian children in the Israeli criminal justice system, underscoring the need for fair trials and an end to ill-treatment.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Israel/ OPT: Palestinian prisoner arrested as a child, Ahmad Manasra, still in prison despite worsening mental health". Amnesty International. June 17, 2022.
- ^ "Palestinian seeks early release in case that shook Jerusalem". AP News. November 10, 2022.
- ^ https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-jerusalem-israel-crime-treatment-of-prisoners-684c0f0e5d9758da1cbccf1283800586
- ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-release-footage-of-pisgat-zeev-terrorists-with-knives/amp/
- ^ "Israel/Palestine: outrage at further solitary confinement of Palestinian detained since he was 13". www.amnesty.org.uk.
- ^ a b "Israel/OPT: Palestinian's Solitary Confinement Renewed". www.amnesty.org.uk.
- ^ "Israel/OPT: After nearly 2 years in solitary confinement, Ahmad Manasra too ill to attend his hearing". Amnesty International. September 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "UN experts urge Israel to free Ahmad Manasra | OHCHR".
- ^ "IOPT: Health Fears For Tortured Palestinian Detainee". www.amnesty.org.uk.