Israel releases British citizen over coerced confession
Dual UK-Lebanese citizen Faiz Mahmoud Ahmed Sherari was 'shackled and threatened' whilst under arrest, rendering his confession invalid
An Israeli military court has ordered the release of a British citizen who was “shackled and threatened” for three weeks by the Shin Bet security service, after a confession was ruled to have been extracted under physical and psychological pressure.
Faiz Mahmoud Ahmed Sherari, 49, a dual UK-Lebanese national who has lived in Britain for the last 23 years, was accused of being a courier for Hamas during a four-day visit to the West Bank in September, when he was arrested.
However, a judge sitting in an Israeli military court has now ordered his release after finding that “prolonged painful shackling [and] threats” were used between 15 September and 6 October to “exploit the [man’s] weaknesses”.
He was held without access to a lawyer, and the British embassy in Tel Aviv said it was trying to provide consular assistance.
It is rare for Israel’s military courts to criticise Israeli security practices, but Lt Col Azriel Levy found that Sherari’s rights were violated and that his confession was coerced and therefore invalid, according to reports in Israeli media.
“There’s no doubt that the defendant’s confession, which was given an hour after the end of his Shin Bet interrogation, was dramatically influenced by the method of interrogation, which also included pained and prolonged shackling, threats, and a blatant exploitation of the defendant’s demonstrated weakness,” said Levy.
Sherari remains in custody pending an appeal. A statement from Shin Bet, Israel’s equivalent of MI5, said Sherari was indicted “for grave offences against the security of the region,” adding: “The allegations of torture… are baseless and groundless.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
