On February 10 2011, residents of the unrecognized Bedouin village of Al Araqib gathered with Israeli activists to protest its destruction, for the 15th time, by Jewish National Fund bulldozers. Police violently dispersed the peaceful demonstration, arresting three activists. The Beersheeba Magistrate accepted the prosecution’s demand that the detainees be released only on the condition that they be denied access to to the village for two weeks — denying them any ability to assist the community.
Attorneys Shahdeh Ibn Bari and Omer Shatz approached HRDF aid in launching an appeal in the District Court. The request was approved and the appeal successful. Judge Tali Haimovitch ruled that the charge of “illegal gathering” (i.e. protesting without a permit) was not cause to limit freedom of movement and expression.
