By Addameer Prisoner Support And Human Rights Association: On 15 October 2019, Samer Arbeed‘s detention was extended for another eight days, following a court session that barred Samer’s lawyer from being present.
The hearing was held in Hadassah Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where Samer was transferred on 27 September due to life-threatening injuries from being tortured during interrogation in Al-Moscobiya Interrogation Center.
Samer has regained consciousness and was disconnected from artificial respirators, yet he continues to lie in the intensive care unit at Hadassah Hospital. Samer’s medical report details a multitude of serious injuries.
His kidneys are seriously malfunctioning, requiring him to be on constant and regular dialysis treatment. Additionally, he suffers from pain and swelling all over his body, particularly in his extremities, and he is still unable to move his legs. Eleven of his ribs are fractured.
Samer continues to be denied legal counsel despite his serious health condition. Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation Forces have continued to interrogate him while he lies in the ICU.
It should be noted that the 15 October court session also permitted Addameer to publicly comment on and publish information about Samer’s health condition despite an ongoing gag order regarding multiple detainees.
The gag order requires all hearings to be closed to the public and denies the right to publish any information regarding them. The Jerusalem Magistrate Court denied Addameer’s appeal to repeal the gag order, banning Addameer’s ability to publish information about these cases.
