The Mossawa Center condemns the violation of detainees' rights and virtual court hearings, demanding their cancellation.

The Mossawa Center closely monitors the sessions related to the extension of detention of individuals from the Arab community since October 7th. A prominent challenge is the absence of detainees' physical presence before the judges during these sessions. Instead, these sessions are conducted remotely, using video technology via mobile phones or screen communication, posing a challenge to ensuring the detainees' rights to face justice. 

In this context, the Mossawa Center has demanded the Public Prosecutor's Office and the court administration to abolish this unjust practice and ensure the provision of fair legal procedures, especially in criminal cases related to the restriction of basic human freedoms and freedom of expression. The Center expressed concern about the impact of these virtual sessions on the rights of detainees and the course of justice, calling for radical solutions to prevent these violations.

The Mossawa Center affirms that this treatment of detainees constitutes a serious violation of their fundamental rights to defend themselves in court, especially under the current circumstances. They pointed out that "virtual" participation in court negatively affects the detainee's ability to communicate directly with the lawyer and the court judge. Additionally, the quality of conversation suffers, and virtual sessions face obstructive technical issues that negatively impact the discussion during the session.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and court administration respond with justifications that reveal a racist face of the institutions, justifying these procedures with "security risks," despite the majority being accused of cases related to freedom of expression. 

The Center demands the release of 7 female detainees charged with social media posts and their transfer to house arrest until legal proceedings are completed. In addition, it will continue to press for the necessity of abolishing virtual court sessions.

The Mossawa Center condemns these illegal and unjust practices, insisting on the immediate cancellation of virtual court sessions, demanding the rights of detainees, and fair and transparent legal procedures.