This coming Tuesday, the hearings for Mohammed and Jamal will be held. During Jamalâs court hearing last Thursday (7 January 2010), the judge extended the investigation period until the 12th. His next court hearing in Ofer will be held, and he continues to be held without charge.
On the same day, Mohammed will face another hearing. On 6 January, military judge Rafael Yamini ordered Mohammadâs detention order to be shortened until 12 January 2010. The judge cited security concerns as justification for Mohammadâs continued administrative detention stating that Mohammad still poses a danger to the security of the area and the public, but, contradictorily, reduced the detention order by 10 days. In the justification of his decision to reduce the length of Mohammadâs administrative detention, the military judge stated that there has been no serious development in the investigation into Mohammadâs case and therefore his prolonged detention could not be justified.
This is in direct contravention to international law, which stipulates that administrative detention is permissible only if âthe security of the state … make it absolutely necessaryâ and only in accordance with âregular procedureâ. Administrative detention should never be used as a substitute for criminal prosecution where there is insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction.
The judge did not impose any restrictions on the military prosecutors regarding any need for additional evidence to renew this order upon its expiration. Mohammadâs administrative detention order could be once again renewed.