Grave human rights concerns regarding Ahmad Manasra's Case

The case of Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian minor who has endured nearly two years in solitary confinement and several years in an Israeli prison, has raised serious concerns about his well-being and the principles of justice we hold dear. 

Background 

Ahmad’s 15-year-old cousin, Hassan, was shot dead at the scene of a stabbing in 2015, and Ahmad sustained severe head injuries when he was hit by a car. Large groups of Israelis gathered to mock and shout abuse at him as he lay bleeding. Ahmad was arrested despite sustaining severe injuries and was violently questioned by Israeli officers. Footage of Ahmad Manasra’s interrogation showed three Israeli officers shouting threats and insults at him as he sat sobbing with a bandage around his head.  

Once he turned 14 years old in 2016, Ahmad was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Israel did this despite the fact that the law at the time when the crime was allegedly committed in 2015 did not permit the imprisonment of minors under the age of 14.⁽¹⁾

Ahmad Manasra has endured several periods of prolonged solitary confinement, violating international law. On October 24, 2021, he was diagnosed by an independent Israeli clinical psychologist with severe psychiatric conditions, which the medical report said had developed since his detention. 

The Beersheba District Court rejected Ahmad Manasra’s appeal for an early release on medical grounds in the summer of 2022.⁽²⁾

Currently

Ahmad Manasra's prolonged isolation and deteriorating health conditions demand a thorough and impartial examination. Israel’s Lod District Court postponed a scheduled hearing on extending Ahmad Manasra’s solitary confinement yesterday due to a decline in his health, and he was taken to a mental health unit at Ayalon prison. His inability to attend his hearing due to his illness clearly indicates the inhumane treatment he has been subjected to during his extended solitary confinement. Solitary confinement is widely recognized as cruel and inhumane punishment with severe psychological and physical consequences. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) emphasize the prohibition of prolonged solitary confinement as it amounts to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.⁽³⁾

Once Ahmad is discharged from the clinic, Israeli prison authorities will return him to solitary confinement and reschedule the court hearing. 

We urge Congress to take immediate steps to address this matter:

1. Call for Transparency: We request that the U.S. government communicate directly with the Israeli authorities to ensure a transparent investigation into Ahmad Manasra's case. Transparency is essential to establishing the facts surrounding his treatment.
2. Monitor Human Rights Violations: We call on Congress to enhance its monitoring of Israel’s human rights violations in detention facilities and advocate for the humane treatment of all detainees.
3. Promote International Human Rights Standards: Congress should reaffirm the importance of adherence to international human rights standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, and work towards their universal implementation. 

The United States has long claimed to champion human rights and justice worldwide. It is incumbent upon us to use our influence to ensure that individuals like Ahmad Manasra are treated in accordance with international law and fundamental principles of human dignity.

⁽¹⁾ UN Human Rights, Country Page: Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel. (2022, July 14). UN experts urge Israel to free Ahmad Manasra. ohchr. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/07/un-experts-urge-israel-free-ahmad-manasra

⁽²⁾ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/09/israel-opt-after-nearly-2-years-in-solitary-confinement-ahmad-manasra-too-ill-to-attend-his-hearing/?utm_source=TWITTER-IS&utm_medium=social&utm_content=11380079892&utm_campaign=Amnesty&utm_term=-Yes

⁽³⁾ Gilmour, A. (n.d.). The Nelson Mandela Rules: Protecting the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty | United Nations. the United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/nelson-mandela-rules-protecting-rights-persons-deprived-liberty