Honenu Attorney Adi Kedar asked the interrogating authorities to allow the July 2015 Kfar Duma arson incident case detainees being held by the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) to light Chanukah candles. The following day, during a deliberation at the Petach Tikva Magistrate Court, it became known that ISA interrogators did not allow the detainees to lay tefilin or light Hanukkah candles.

On the day of the deliberation, dozens of detainees’ friends protested opposite the Petach Tikva Magistrate Court, holding signs reading, “Stop abusing Jews” and “Fight terror, not Jews”.

Honenu Attorneys Chai Haber and Bentzi Kovler, who are representing the detainees, demanded that they be allowed their basic religious rights to lay tefillin and light candles.

Chai Haber said, “We understand that the detainees were not only refused medical treatment but also were deprived of basic rights, both by the manner in which the interrogation was conducted, and also by denying them the possibility to fulfill certain religious obligations. We expect that those responsible will put an end to this.”

Bentzi Kovler protests the serious violation of his client’s rights, telling the press, “The connection between my client and this case is vague and extremely weak, if it exists at all. We have not seen any progress in the investigation and therefore I hope that my client will be released soon. Furthermore, his rights were violated while being interrogated and also when he was prevented from fulfilling his religious obligations.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)