Trial of Israel-jailed Jordanian teen adjourned

AMMAN — Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday adjourned anew the trial of the youngest Jordanian prisoner in its jails till March 16, family and activists said.

With the new delay, the total hearings in the case of Mohammad Suleiman, who was 14 when he was arrested two years ago, has exceeded 50, according to a statement by the media team which supports Jordanian prisoners in Israel (Fedaa).

Israel detained child Suleiman in March 2013 for charges of throwing stones at an Israeli military patrol, resulting in the injury of seven soldiers, according to the statement.

Suleiman’s father, Mahdi, was quoted in the statement as saying that the court was adjourned for one month.

“Suleiman was 14 years old when he was arrested with other Palestinian children,” Shireen Nafe, a Fedaa member, told The Jordan Times in a phone interview, adding that Suleiman was in the West Bank for a visit to his relatives at the time of his detention.

She noted that the father “usually carries Mohammad’s photo and tours the streets of Amman to acquaint the public with his son’s case”.

Mahdi also tried to contact the Foreign Ministry and the Lower House to intervene in the issue, with no “positive and serious replies”, Nafe added.

He was quoted in the statement as saying that he has not seen his son since he was arrested, calling on authorities to secure him a visit to his child and work for his release as soon as possible.

“Mohammad’s case grabbed the attention of international organisations and activists, but not local ones unfortunately,” Nafe added.

Mahdi said in the statement that only European activists were allowed to attend Tuesday’s hearing, along with a woman who accompanied Mohammad’s mother to the court.

The Jordan Times tried several times to contact the Foreign Ministry for comment on the issue, but calls were not returned.