Sheikh Saleh Released After 9 Months in Israeli Jails

Al-Quds, 18 Rabi’ul Akhir 1438/17 January 2017 (MINA)- Israeli authorities released Tuesday morning a Palestinian anti-occupation icon Sheikh Raed Saleh from prison after he completed his nine-month prison term.

Sheikh Salah began serving a nine-month jail sentence in May of 2016 following his conviction last March on charges of “incitement,” the Palestinian Information Center reported.

His release was marked by confusion, with his lawyer Omar Khamayseh accusing Israeli prison authorities of transferring Sheikh Salah to unknown locations.

Deputy Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel Sheikh Kamal Khatib pointed out that Israeli police placed Sheikh Salah in a bus station away from Nafha prison.

He was expected to be freed at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. However, two hours have passed by and Sheikh Salah has not shown up yet, he continued.

We moved to Beersheba prison looking for him. However, we received no answer about his fate, according to his statements.

This is irresponsible and racist act. Israel would be held responsible for anything that happened to Salah, he said.

Three hours later, Sheikh Salah appeared with high spirits in Hassan Beik Mosque in Ramla after being left by Israeli police in a Jewish community in Negev south of Israel without any protection.

Following his release, Sheikh Salah renewed the Palestinian total adherence to al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem.

He pointed out that he was held in a solitary confinement during his nine-month prison term where he was subjected to tough investigation and unhuman treatment at the hands of Israeli jailers.(T/R04/RS05)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)