JERUSALEM, February 26, 2011 (WAFA) – A Palestinian human rights group Saturday condemned an Israeli court decision ordering a Palestinian activist from East Jerusalem not to enter the Old City of Jerusalem for two weeks.

An Israeli court ruled Friday that Nasser Qous, head of the Prisoners’ Club in Jerusalem and a resident of the Old City, will not be allowed to enter the Old City for 15 days. He was held in custody for 24 hours before the court had made its ruling.

The decision was made because of an alleged role for Qous in a brawl between Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers, according to the press release.

The Ramallah-based Mandela Institute, which follows the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, said in a statement that the expulsion order was part of an Israeli campaign targeting Jerusalem residents.

Qous condemned the court order and said that Israeli courts follow a systematic policy to expel Jerusalem residents in attempt to empty the city of its indigenous population.

He called for awareness of these serious violations that are incompatible with international norms and laws that recognize Jerusalem as an occupied city and which require the occupying power to protect the occupied civilian populations.

R.Q./M.A.