Non-violence activist Bassem Tamimi was released on bail late Tuesday after spending 13 months in prison. Tamimi, from Ramallah-district village Nabi Saleh, has been recognized as a human rights defender by the European Union and a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. He was detained by Israeli forces on March 24, 2011, and accused of organizing illegal demonstrations in the village, which holds weekly protests against seizure of their land by nearby Israeli settlement Halamish. On Tuesday, an Israeli military court rejected the Military Prosecution's appeal against his release on bail, and released him on 12,000 shekel ($3,193) bail. Tamimi will not be able to return to his village, as bail conditions prescribe he remain inside the city of Ramallah, and he is under house arrest between Thursday and Sunday. (Reference for text: Ma'an. Photo: ActiveStills.org) |