Imprisoned journalist Mohammad Mona’s appeal denied hearing

mohammad-monaThe Israeli Supreme Court rejected a petition filed by imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammad Mona of Quds Press, from Nablus, demanding his release. Mona has been imprisoned since August 7, 2013.

He is being held in administrative detention without charge or trial since that time and his first detention period is scheduled to expire soon. Ahmed al-Betawi of Solidarity Association said that the Supreme Court generally refuses to hear these petitions from prisoners in their first period of administrative detention. Palestinians may be held for indefinitely renewable periods, each being up to six months, under administrative detention, without charge or trial.

Mona was arrested after a raid on his home east of Nablus. On August 15 he was sentenced to a six-month term in administrative detention; no charges were raised against him. His term should end in early February, unless occupation officials extend his administrative detention for an additional period.