Israel releases Palestinian lawmaker Khalida Jarrar after 15 months

Video: Khalida Jarrar was freed on Friday in the West Bank after being imprisoned for 15 months.
2 min read
03 June, 2016
Israel has released a female Palestinian lawmaker imprisoned for 15 months.

Khalida Jarrar flashed a victory sign to well-wishers as she was freed on Friday in the West Bank.

Jarrar is a prominent and inspirational leader in Palestinian society.

In addition to being a lawmaker, she is a women's rights activist, and a member of the board of directors for the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association.

Jarrar was arrested by Israeli forces from her home in the West Bank town of al-Bireh, on April 2 2015.

The Israeli government imprisoned her last year after convicting her of belonging to an illegal organisation and incitement.

Her husband Ghassam says "she was arrested for political not security reasons."

Addameer reported in November that the Israeli military prosecution relied on secret material to maintain leverage during the trial proceedings in Jarrar's case.

She was placed under administrative detention based on this secret material from the day she was arrested.

Addameer also said that Israel used "fabricated charges" against Jarrar obtained through "deceptive and flawed interrogation techniques" that were used to obtain confessions from Palestinian detainees.

The witnesses later denied the confessions, which they said were given under duress.

The military prosecution "requested considering them hostile witnesses and the court approved that request," according to Addameer.