Bara’a Fuqaha, a twenty-four-year-old medical student at Al-Quds University in Israel, has been suspended from her studies by six months. The decision was made by the Ofer Military Court based on secret files neither Fuqaha nor her lawyer have access to. The Committee considers this to be a violation of Fuqaha’s human rights.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-bans-palestinian-women-education-racist-policy
September 7, 2023
General Rav Aluf Herzi Halevi
Chief of the General Staff, Ministry of Defense
37 Kaplan Street
Tel-Aviv 6473424
Israel
pniot@mod.gov.il
Dear General Halevi,
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is a fifty-year-old independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are respectfully requesting your interference in the case of Bara’a Fuqaha, 24, a female medical student at Al-Quds University. She has been suspended from her university studies for six months; the decision was made by the Ofer Military Court based on secret files neither Fuqaha nor her lawyer have access to. Bara’a is not aware of any behavior that could warrant her suspension. Instead of continuing her studies, she is now confined to her village of Kafr al-Labad in fear of being detained by the IDF if she goes out for an appeal.
In the opinion of this Committee, this act is a violation of the student’s human rights, as it is based on secret evidence and has no chance for rebuttal. We strongly urge you to permit Ms. Fuqaha to begin the fall semester normally.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
CC:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
The Prime Minister’s Office
Public Enquiries Department
Kiryat Ben Gurion, Building C
Jerusalem 91950, Israel
pm_eng@pmo.gov.il