Tamimi has been incarcerated since March and this hearing will be the first in which the allegations are actually discussed.
Proceedings in the case have been prolonged as hearings were canceled due to prosecution witnesses not showing up, technical issues and postponement by the prosecution.
Among those scheduled to testify is 14-year-old Islam Dar Ayyoub, also from Nabi Saleh, who was taken from his bed at gunpoint on Jan. 23. In his interrogation the morning after his arrest, Islam alleged that Bassem and Naji Tamimi organized groups of youth into “brigades,” charged with different responsibilities during the demonstrations. Some were allegedly in charge of stone throwing, others of blocking roads, etc, he alleged.
During a trial-within-a-trial procedure in Islam’s trial, motioning for his testimony to be ruled inadmissible, it was proven that his interrogation was fundamentally flawed and violated the rights set forth in the Israeli Youth Law.
On June 14, the European Union expressed its concern over Tamimi’s imprisonment.
Tamimi is a veteran grassroots activist from the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah. He is married to Nariman Tamimi and has four children.
Tamimi has been arrested by the Israeli Army 11 times, though he was never convicted of any offense. Tamimi spent roughly three years in administrative detention, with no charges brought against him. Furthermore, his attorney and him were denied access to “secret evidence” brought against him.
On March 24, a massive contingent of Israeli soldiers raided Tamimi’s house, only minutes after he entered the house to prepare for a meeting with a European diplomat. He was arrested and subsequently charged.
