The Ahrar Center for Detainees’ Studies reported on Tuesday that the Israeli Authorities released Palestinian legislator Sheikh Hamid Al Beetawi, on Tuesday evening after nearly one year imprisonment. Al Beetawi, 64, was kidnapped on May, 24, 2007, along with dozens of Palestinian ministers, legislators, mayors and Hamas leaders, after the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit near the Gaza borders.
He was interrogated for affiliation and membership with Hamas movement, and the Israeli prosecution could not file charges against him, he was therefore transferred to Administrative Detention which was repeatedly renewed without any legal justification.
Two days prior to his abduction, Al Beetawi was scheduled for a heart surgery in Jordan.
The Ahrar Center appealed to all human rights groups to intervene for the release of all detained legislators and officials, including Dr. Aziz Dweik, head of the Legislative Council, as those officials were all democratically elected by the Palestinian people.
