Palestinian youth activist Tareq Mattar ordered imprisoned without charge or trial

Palestinian youth activist Tareq Mattar was ordered to six months imprisonment without charge or trial under administrative detention on 10 August 2017. The order was issued by the Israeli occupation military commander over the West Bank and a confirmation is expected from an Israeli military court within 72 hours.

Mattar, 28, is a Palestinian youth leader who is active in a variety of projects, initiatives and forums to organize Palestinian youth and promote study and discussion of the Palestinian cause. He was previously jailed for his Palestinian political activities.

Mattar was seized on 3 August after Israeli occupation forces invaded his family home twice in two days, ransacking and destroying his family’s belongings. While in the family home, occupation forces threatened his family members that they will return every day, tear apart the home and harass and even arrest if Tareq did not report for interrogation. When Mattar appeared at the occupation military base with his family, he was seized by occupation forces and his family sent back. Only days later, he has joined 500 other Palestinians in being ordered imprisoned without charge or trial under an indefinitely renewable administrative detention order and 6,200 total Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails.

Administrative detention orders are frequently used to target and imprison community leaders and Palestinian organizers. The orders are indefinitely renewable, and Palestinians have spent years at a time held in indefinitely-renewable administrative detention.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network denounces the seizure of Tareq Mattar and demands his immediate release and the release of all Palestinians held without charge or trial under administrative detention. The targeting of Tareq Mattar is part of a systematic policy of attacks on prominent youth activists and influential young leaders among Palestinians under occupation and stands alongside the ongoing imprisonment of Palestinian political leaders. We urge friends and supporters of Palestine around the world to join in the call to free Tareq Mattar and all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.