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Al Haq
Encyclopedia
Al-Haq is an independent Palestinian
human rights
organization founded in 1979 and based in Ramallah
in the West Bank
. It monitors and documents human rights violations by all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
, issuing reports on its findings and producing detailed legal studies.
Al-Haq has been an affiliate of the Geneva
-based International Commission of Jurists
for over 20 years, and is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Habitat International Coalition
, and the World Organisation Against Torture
(OMCT). It also is part of the Executive Committee of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
(EMHRN) and of the Steering Committee of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations' Network (PNGO).
Al-Haq and its counterpart, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem
, were co-recipients of the Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize
in 1989, and of the Geuzenpenning
, a Dutch human rights award, in 2009.
in 2001.
On 24 February 2009, Al-Haq, in cooperation with solicitor Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), has filed a claim for judicial review before the High Court of England and Wales challenging the government of the United Kingdom
over its failure to fulfill its obligations under international law with respect to Israel
’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The official title of the case is "Al-Haq v. UK Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs et al."
as a justification for its military operation in the Gaza Strip
.
, and that "his travel may endanger regional security" but refuse to disclose evidence on the grounds that it is classified. Jabarin has been detained on at least two previous occasions following convictions in Israeli courts on the charge that he has engaged in activity on behalf of the PFLP, once for nine months in 1985 and once in 1994. Jabarin denies membership saying that he has worked for Al-Haq since 1987. Israeli and international human rights organizations sent letters of protest to Defense Minister Ehud Barak
, asking that Jabarin be allowed to travel and accept the prize. Israel–Netherlands relations
have been strained by the affair.
In 2009, Israel's Shin Bet prevented the General Director of Al-Haq, Shawan Jabarin, from travelling to the Netherlands to accept the Geuzenpenning, a prestigious Dutch human rights prize presented by the Geuzen Resistance 1940-1945 Foundation jointly awarded to Al-Haq and B'Tselem. The Supreme Court of Israel were asked to review Jabarin's petition to reverse the travel ban which the petitioners stated "suggests he is being targeted for securing human rights for his people". Previous secret hearings by the Israeli High Court decided in the Shin Bet's favour. The court heard the arguments and reviewed the evidence presented to it in two separate hearings on the 5th and 9 March 2009 and dismissed the petition upholding the travel ban. In previous case in 2008, The Supreme Court concluded, after reviewing classified intelligence material, that a petitioner was at the same time among the senior activists of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
organization. Al Haq issued a statement that stated "the Israeli High Court has yet again exposed itself as merely a rubber-stamp for the decisions of the military and intelligence authorities, rather than an independent branch of government". Dutch Foreign Minister, Maxime Verhagen
, in its official statement issued on 11 March 2009 wrote "[the Dutch Ministry] is very disappointed that the travel ban on the Palestinian human rights defender Shabwan Jabarin has not been lifted."
In November 2010 Jabarin, who was Amnesty International
's first Palestinian Prisoner of Conscience
, was refused permission by the Israeli authorities to travel to Galway
, Ireland
to receive a "distinguished graduate award" at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the NUI
's Irish Centre for Human Rights, where he had studied international human rights law from 2004 to 2005.
In addition, the government of Jordan
also denied Jabarin an exit visa and did not allow him to travel in its territories.
appointed Shawan Jabarin to their Mideast Advisory Board. This was seen as a controversial appointment since Jabarin was labeled "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by the Israeli Supreme Court
, for the dual roles they claimed he held in both the terrorist organization PFLP, and the human rights organization, Al Haq. HRW’s decision to include Jabarin on its Mideast Board sparked criticism from Robert L. Bernstein
, the founder of HRW, Stuart Robinowitz, a prominent New York attorney who has undertaken human-rights missions for the American Bar Association
and Helsinki Watch
(the predecessor to HRW) in Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and El Salvador, and Prof. Gerald Steinberg, the president of the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor
.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organization founded in 1979 and based in Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. It monitors and documents human rights violations by all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
, issuing reports on its findings and producing detailed legal studies.
Al-Haq has been an affiliate of the Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
-based International Commission of Jurists
International Commission of Jurists
The International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
for over 20 years, and is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Habitat International Coalition
Habitat International Coalition
Habitat International Coalition is an independent, nonprofit alliance with hundreds of organizations and individuals , which has been working in housing and human settlements for more than 30 years. The Coalition comprises social movements, community-based organizations, support groups and academics...
, and the World Organisation Against Torture
World Organisation Against Torture
The World Organisation Against Torture is the world’s largest coalition of non-governmental organisations fighting against arbitrary detention, torture, summary and extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances and other forms of violence...
(OMCT). It also is part of the Executive Committee of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network is a network of 64 human rights organisations, institutions and individuals based in 30 countries in Europe and the Mediterranean region...
(EMHRN) and of the Steering Committee of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations' Network (PNGO).
Al-Haq and its counterpart, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem
B'Tselem
B'Tselem is an Israeli non-governmental organization . It calls itself "The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories"...
, were co-recipients of the Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize
Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize
The Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize was established in 1986 by former United States president Jimmy Carter and US philanthropist Dominique de Menil to "promote the protection of human rights throughout the world." The foundation periodically gives out prizes of $100,000 to individuals and...
in 1989, and of the Geuzenpenning
Geuzenpenning
The Geuzenpenning is a Dutch award given to persons or organizations who have fought for democracy and against dictatorship, racism and discrimination. It has been awarded annually since 1987 in the city of Vlaardingen....
, a Dutch human rights award, in 2009.
World Conference against Racism
Al-Haq was an active participant in the World Conference against Racism held in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
in 2001.
Al-Haq legal cases in the UK
Its case against the British government to end export licenses to Israel was dismissed by the UK Court of Appeal on November 25, 2008. Al Haq originally brought the case in November 2006 to "secure the implementation of the July 2004 [ICJ] Advisory Opinion on Israel's Wall."On 24 February 2009, Al-Haq, in cooperation with solicitor Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), has filed a claim for judicial review before the High Court of England and Wales challenging the government of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
over its failure to fulfill its obligations under international law with respect to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The official title of the case is "Al-Haq v. UK Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs et al."
Operation Cast Lead
In April 2009, Al-Haq issued a position paper titled "Operation Cast Lead and the Distortion of International Law". The paper is a legal analysis of Israel’s claim to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
as a justification for its military operation in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
.
Travel bans on Shawan Jabarin
Jabarin has been prevented from traveling outside of West Bank since 2006. Shin Bet claim Jabarin is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestinePopular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
, and that "his travel may endanger regional security" but refuse to disclose evidence on the grounds that it is classified. Jabarin has been detained on at least two previous occasions following convictions in Israeli courts on the charge that he has engaged in activity on behalf of the PFLP, once for nine months in 1985 and once in 1994. Jabarin denies membership saying that he has worked for Al-Haq since 1987. Israeli and international human rights organizations sent letters of protest to Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
, asking that Jabarin be allowed to travel and accept the prize. Israel–Netherlands relations
Israel–Netherlands relations
Israel-Netherlands relations are foreign relations between Israel and the Netherlands. In 1947, the Netherlands voted in favor of the United Nations Resolution 181. Both countries established diplomatic relation in 1949. Israel has an embassy in The Hague...
have been strained by the affair.
In 2009, Israel's Shin Bet prevented the General Director of Al-Haq, Shawan Jabarin, from travelling to the Netherlands to accept the Geuzenpenning, a prestigious Dutch human rights prize presented by the Geuzen Resistance 1940-1945 Foundation jointly awarded to Al-Haq and B'Tselem. The Supreme Court of Israel were asked to review Jabarin's petition to reverse the travel ban which the petitioners stated "suggests he is being targeted for securing human rights for his people". Previous secret hearings by the Israeli High Court decided in the Shin Bet's favour. The court heard the arguments and reviewed the evidence presented to it in two separate hearings on the 5th and 9 March 2009 and dismissed the petition upholding the travel ban. In previous case in 2008, The Supreme Court concluded, after reviewing classified intelligence material, that a petitioner was at the same time among the senior activists of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
organization. Al Haq issued a statement that stated "the Israeli High Court has yet again exposed itself as merely a rubber-stamp for the decisions of the military and intelligence authorities, rather than an independent branch of government". Dutch Foreign Minister, Maxime Verhagen
Maxime Verhagen
Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen is a Dutch politician in the Christian Democratic Appeal party. He is the Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Deputy Prime Minister since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte.He previously served as a Member of the European Parliament for...
, in its official statement issued on 11 March 2009 wrote "[the Dutch Ministry] is very disappointed that the travel ban on the Palestinian human rights defender Shabwan Jabarin has not been lifted."
In November 2010 Jabarin, who was Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
's first Palestinian Prisoner of Conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
, was refused permission by the Israeli authorities to travel to Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to receive a "distinguished graduate award" at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the NUI
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
's Irish Centre for Human Rights, where he had studied international human rights law from 2004 to 2005.
In addition, the government of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
also denied Jabarin an exit visa and did not allow him to travel in its territories.
Jabarin’s appointment to Human Rights Watch’s advisory board
In February 2011, Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
appointed Shawan Jabarin to their Mideast Advisory Board. This was seen as a controversial appointment since Jabarin was labeled "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by the Israeli Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, for the dual roles they claimed he held in both the terrorist organization PFLP, and the human rights organization, Al Haq. HRW’s decision to include Jabarin on its Mideast Board sparked criticism from Robert L. Bernstein
Robert L. Bernstein
-Career in Publishing:Bernstein started as an office boy at Simon & Schuster in 1946, moved to Random House in 1956 and succeeded Bennett Cerf as President and CEO in 1966. He served as the President of Random House for 25 years. He published many great American authors, including William...
, the founder of HRW, Stuart Robinowitz, a prominent New York attorney who has undertaken human-rights missions for the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
and Helsinki Watch
Helsinki Watch
Helsinki Watch was a private American NGO devoted to monitoring Helsinki implementation throughout the Soviet bloc. It was created in 1978 to monitor compliance to the Helsinki Final Act...
(the predecessor to HRW) in Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and El Salvador, and Prof. Gerald Steinberg, the president of the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
.
Awards
- 1989 - The Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize (co-recipient with B'Tselem)
- 1990 - ReebokReebokReebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
Human Rights Award (awarded to Shabwan Jabarin) - 2009 - The Geuzen Medal (co-recipient with B'Tselem)