Palestinian hunger striker Adnan appeal expedited

Israeli court to revise trial date for Palestinian hunger striker Adnan
21 February, 2012 – Associated Press – The Daily Star

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel’s Supreme Court has brought forward a hearing this week on the appeal of a Palestinian prisoner waging an unprecedented two-month hunger strike, court officials and his lawyers said Monday.

A statement from the Supreme Court said Khader Adnan’s appeal will be held Tuesday. No explanation was given as to why it had been brought forward. It was scheduled to take place Thursday.

Adnan’s lawyer Mahmoud Hassan says the 33-year-old member of the Islamic Jihad militant group is in danger of death after 65 days of a hunger strike, protesting Israel’s policy of long-term detention without trial.

His case has attracted widespread attention among Palestinians, with large crowds holding regular protests in his support.

The life-threatening gamble has also drawn broader attention toward Israel’s policy of “administrative detention,” under which Palestinians can be held without charge for months or even years at a time.

Adnan has not been charged with a crime and says he does not know what he is suspected of doing.

His family says he is a member of Islamic Jihad, which has killed dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks, but it is not known if he was involved in violence.

Both the European Union and the United Nations have said they are following the case closely and urged Israel to give Adnan an open trial.

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