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Home » Children »

Testimony: M.A.M.D.

 

Name: M.A.M.D.
Age: 16
Date: 22 February 2017
Location: Beit Duqqu, West Bank
Accusation: Throwing stones

On 22 February 2017, a 16-year-old minor from Beit Duqqu was detained by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near his village at 3:00 p.m. and accused of throwing stones. He reports being informed of his right to silence but not consulting with a lawyer prior to interrogation. He reports being released on NIS 2,500 bail, 8 days later. 

I was with a friend on my way back home from the nearby village of Biddu at around 3:00 p.m. As we approached an Israeli military checkpoint the soldiers told us to stop and asked for our identity cards. Then they asked us to step aside and they searched us.
 
Minutes later a military jeep arrived and the soldiers took me and my friend to the back of the jeep and made me sit on the metal floor. The jeep drove towards a military gate near Biddu where the soldiers made me sit on the ground for about 30 minutes.
 
After about 30 minutes the commander came and asked me why I throw stones and I told him I did not throw stones and that I was on my way back home when I was arrested.
 
About 30 minutes later I was taken back to the jeep where I sat on the floor again. The jeep drove to Atarot police station in East Jerusalem. On the way the soldiers told me to keep my head down and to put my hands behind my head. We arrived at Atarot at around 5:00 p.m. and I was immediately taken to the basement.
 
I asked to use the toilet twice and the soldiers allowed me. The soldiers asked me for my father’s phone number and I remained in the room until around 10:00 p.m. when I was taken for interrogation.
 
The interrogator allowed my father to attend the interrogation but he told him to remain silent and threatened to throw him out if he interfered. The interrogator told me I had the right to remain silent and the right to consult with a lawyer. I did not speak to a lawyer. Then he asked me why I throw stones and how many times I took part in throwing stones. He also asked me about the boys who throw stones. I told him I did not know anything and that I did not throw stones at all.
 
Then he showed me video footage of boys throwing stones at soldiers. I continued to deny the accusation and denied that it was me in the footage. The interrogation lasted for about two hours. During this time the interrogator tried to extract a confession from me by repeating his questions over and over again but I did not confess.
 
After about two hours the interrogator showed me some documents in Hebrew and asked me to sign them and I did after he told me they were identical to what I had said. Then they took my photograph and fingerprints and took me to another room for about an hour.
 
After about an hour I was taken in a jeep to Ofer prison, near Jerusalem, where I arrived at around 3:00 a.m. At Ofer I was strip searched and then taken into Section 13. During my time at Ofer I had three military court hearings. The first time I was sent back without going into the courtroom. The second hearing was adjourned. My parents attended and a lawyer and I was allowed to speak to them.
 
On the third hearing, which was on 26 February 2017, the military judge decided to release me on bail. My parents had to pay NIS 2,500 bail. I was released three days later, on 1 March 2017.