Photos of an illegal arrest

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On Dec 27, 2001, Yoav Bar was arrested at a peaceful vigil in Haifa and charged with "assaulting a policeman".

On Dec 28, his arrest was extended by three days by a magistrate court judge who refused to watch a video the defense presented, which shows the arrest and proves that Yoav did not assault policemen but was rather assaulted by them. An appeal on his decision was filed by attorney Orna Kohn and will be brought before the district court on Dec 30th.

Scroll down for the relevant images from the video. They cover about 35 seconds, from the time Yoav was approached from the back till he was taken into a police car.

Photography: Rony Dahdal.
Copyright: I’lam Center, Media Center for the Palestinian Society in Israel.

For contacts regarding use of the photos or the video write to iritka@zahav.net.il .


Latest update (30/12) - Yoav was released: The police prosecutor did not show up to the appeal. They instead sent Yoav with a release form.

On Friday they gave the court written "testimonies" of several police officers, including senior officers, claiming they were either attacked by Yoav or saw him attack others. They apparently did not want to contrast those "testimonies" with the video.


(6/1/02) Adalah Files Complaints Against Haifa Police Officers For Falsifying Reports and Conducting Illegitimate Arrests - click here for the press release.

Yoav's head is partly behind the flag. A policeman approaches him from behind and rests his hand on his back.

The policeman grabs Yoav by the collar of his jacket.

Pulls.

Pulls some more.

And more.

Yoav is pulled back....

Until the photographer in the blue shirt hides him.

Here he is on the ground. The lighting is different because of a photgrapher's flash.

Policemen close in on him and he is hidden again.

Others are pushed away as Yoav gets up.....

And falls.

He is dragged away.








And taken to the police car.



On the left, close to the camera, is the back of attorney Iman Odah, a member of Haifa council, who approached the policemen and asked why Yoav was arrested. He was kicked, shoved into the police car and arrested as well. He was also charged with "assaulting a policeman" and was released on bail the same night.