The Palestinian Center for Prisoners Advocacy affirmed that the Israeli Prison Forces continues its violations against Palestinian prisoners inside prisons and detention centers during the month of Ramadan, amid harsh conditions and arbitrary measures that target the practice of religious rituals and undermine the most basic human rights guaranteed by international laws for prisoners.
The center explained, based on testimonies conveyed by lawyers during their visits to prisoners, that prison authorities deliberately prevent prisoners from performing congregational prayers or holding Tarawih prayers inside the prison sections. They also prevent the call to prayer (Adhan) or any announcement indicating the entry of prayer times, which deprives prisoners of knowing the time to begin fasting for the Fajr prayer or the time of the Maghrib call to prayer to break their fast.
The center pointed out that many prisoners have been subjected to physical and verbal assaults by prison guards simply for declaring their intention to fast or requesting access to a copy of the Qur’an to read during the month. This constitutes a clear violation of freedom of worship and the religious rights guaranteed to prisoners under international conventions.
The center further indicated that the violations are not limited to religious restrictions. Prison administrations also deliberately delay the delivery of meals designated for Iftar and Suhoor for long hours after their scheduled time, worsening the suffering of fasting prisoners. Some prisoners reported that they are sometimes forced to continue fasting for consecutive days due to the lack of food being provided at the appropriate time.
The center confirmed that these practices are part of a long series of punitive measures carried out by prison administrations against Palestinian prisoners, warning that the continuation of such policies during Ramadan represents a blatant violation of the prisoners’ religious and humanitarian rights.
The Palestinian Center for the Defense of Prisoners called on international and human rights institutions to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities and to take urgent action to pressure the occupation authorities to stop these violations and ensure respect for prisoners’ right to freely practice their religious rituals. The center stressed that the prisoners’ issue continues to suffer from a lack of genuine and serious follow-up at both the international and regional levels.
