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The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) and Zulat for Equality and Human Rights wish to express their opposition to the bill sbmitted to the Knesset, which seeks to significantly tighten the conditions for release on bail that a commanding police officer may impose on detainees: bar entry to a certain geographic area for 90 days (15 now) days, ban an assembly for 90 days (30 now), confine a person to a specific place for 30 days (15 now), and impose house arrest for 15 days (5 now).
Our main concern is that under the guise of the need to fight serious crime, police officers, be they senior or junior, will be at liberty to impose draconian restrictions on citizens, including with regard to so-called offenses related to political protest, participation in demonstrations, and freedom of expression.
PCATI and Zulat are of the opinion that not only should police officers not be awarded broader authority to restrict detainees, but their ability to enact far-reaching restrictions on freedom of expression, protest, and demonstration should be substantially limited. Such restrictions, to the extent that they are necessary, should be imposed in exceptional cases, sparingly, and in consultation with legal counsels.
Therefore, we call on MKs of all factions of the House to strongly oppose Criminal Procedure Law (Powers of Enforcement – Arrests): Stricter Conditions for Release on Bail-2023.