Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality
פורום דו-קיום בנגב לשוויון אזרחי
منتدى التعايش السلمي في النقب من أجل المساواة المدنية

Appeal to the police for false arrests and police violence near the village of Saʿwah

14.03.2021

On 22.2.2021, police forces made false arrests using excessive violence during a plowing operation near the village of Saʿwah.

From evidence that came to us, it appears that the police made false arrests using violence and also imprisoned the detainees for over six hours on a detention bus without access to food and denied them access to medical care. The violation of the detainees’ rights continued, according to the evidence, even after the detainees were brought to a police station, where they were denied the right to consult a lawyer before the interrogation.

Most of the detainees were released immediately after being questioned on suspicion of “interfering with a police officer in the performance of his duties.” Beyond the arbitrary denial of the residents’ freedom, the right of protest of the activists was also denied.

In light of this, NCF together with the Israeli Association for Civil Rights, appealed to the Israel Police to investigate the incident and clarify the allegations regarding the violation of the detainees’ rights.

To continue reading the letter in Hebrew please click here

Photos were taken by Ella Gil from Sikkuy