 |  | Administrative detention update
[Ramallah, 15 July 2009] – On 7 July 2009, Entima al-Lahham (UA 4/09) was issued with his fourth administrative detention order by the Israeli military commander in the West Bank. The order was reviewed by an Israeli military court on 13 July 2007, and reduced from four to two months. Entima’s latest administrative detention order is now set to expire on 7 September 2009.
Entima has been held without charge or trial since 13 July 2008.
Administrative detention
Administrative detention is detention without charge or trial and is often based on ‘secret evidence’. Israeli Military Order 1591 empowers military commanders to detain Palestinians, including children as young as 12, for up to six months if they have ‘reasonable grounds to presume that the security of the area or public security require the detention’. The initial six month period can be extended by additional six-month periods indefinitely. This procedure denies the detainee the right to a fair trial and the ability to adequately challenge the basis of his or her detention. There are currently around 428 Palestinian men, women and children in administrative detention. For more information visit the DCI-Palestine website at Freedom Now.
To take action, please follow this link and write to your elected representatives and/or the Israeli authorities demanding an end to the practice of detaining children without charge or trial in administrative detention. | 
