Daughter of former member of Israeli Knesset taken prisoner: arrest purely political, says dad

21.08.09 - 10:20

Nablus / PNN – The Israeli Magistrate's Court extended the detention of Laila Taha until Monday after prosecuters were found to have no evidence against the woman. She is the daughter of former Palestinian member of Israeli Knesset, Wasil Taha, and was arrested earlier this week by the Israeli intelligence service and police on suspicions of violating a blackout imposed by a court order requested by police. Israeli special forces and police stormed the home of former MK Wasil Taha and took his daughter’s personal computer. Taha state today that the arrest is purely political. Israeli Court extends remand of Laila Taha Friday August 21, 2009 10:59 Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies The Israeli District Court extended the remand of Laila Taha, the daughter of former member of Israeli Knesset, Wasel Taha, until next Monday to place her under further interrogation. Laila Taha - Image by Arabs48 Taha was arrested earlier this week while the Israeli court imposed a gag order on the case refusing to reveal any further information on the case. Laila was arrested at a military roadblock in the occupied West Bank and was immediately taken for questioning. Following her abduction, the Israeli police and Special Forces broke into the house of her father, searched it and confiscated her personal computer. Wasel Taha is the head of the National Democratic Assembly in Kufur Kanna, north of the country. His daughter was arrested along with two young men. She is a member of National Democratic Youth Union, and studies Political Science and Arabic at Haifa University. Her father described the arrest as a provocative act, and an attempt to intimidate his politically and socially active daughter. Taha added that his daughter and the youths detained with her are not involved in any illegal activities. He accused Israel of escalating its violations against members of supporters of the Assembly. The Public Committee for Defending Freedoms, part of the Higher Arab Follow-up Committee, considered the arrest as another attempt by the Israeli security apparatus to intimidate politically active Arab youth. The committee demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Laila, adding that such violations will only make Arab youth more determined to counter provocative Israeli acts against the Arab population.