Jerusalem District Court Judge, Nael Muhanna, ruled against police allegations that the Director of the Mossawa Center, Jafar Farah, refused to obey police orders during a protest on January 23, 2017. The protest, organized by the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, followed the killing of Ya'qub Abu al-Qayan during the demolition of Umm al-Hiran, an unrecognized village in the Negev Desert. In addition to protesting the death of al-Qayan, Farah and the others sought to challenge the refusal of the police to return al-Qayan’s body to his family and the State’s plans to demolish the rest of Umm al-Hiran in order to replace it with a “Jewish only” town.

Police officer Shai Peretz claimed that Farah had tried to obstruct police work and refused to obey orders to move his car. As basis he cited a videotape that the police were unable to find and procure as evidence.

In his ruling, the judge emphasized the inconsistencies in the police officer’s testimony, including his inability to find the recording and his evasive responses relating to it. The judge also stressed that Farah and the others had a right to protest. He added that “It would have been better if the prosecution had not submitted the indictment."

"I have reached the conclusion that the plaintiff did not prove that the suspect obstructed the traffic and refused to move his vehicle," Judge Muhanna wrote. "The violation of a policeman's orders regarding the removal of the vehicle has not been proven."

Adv. Ahmed Ghanim Ghazzawi, who represented Farah, stated that "It is regrettable that police officers lie, deny freedom of expression, and manipulate traffic laws as they wish." We will seek compensation for damages caused by the police.”

The aim of the appeal was to defend freedom of expression and to challenge the policy of repression and intimidation used by the police against Arabs.

Israeli police routinely undermine the ability of Palestinian Arab citizens to exercise their rights to freedom of assembly and expression. In May, 2018, twenty individuals, including the Director of the Mossawa Center, were arrestetd during protests against the killing of Gazans participating in the Great March of Return. While in detention, they were harassed and beaten. Several were injured as a result of their treatment while under arrest and Farah’s knee was broken.

Since 2000, nearly fifty Arab citizens of Israel have been killed by state forces.