JERUSALEM, December 9, 2014 (WAFA) – The European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah Monday expressed concerns over the conviction of a Palestinian activist to about ten months in prison on December 3 by an Israeli military court, according to a press statement.

Murad Shteiwi, an activist from the village of Kafr Qadum, to the east of Qalqilya, was arrested by the Israeli authorities on April 29 on charges of participating in and organizing ‘illegal’ demonstrations. 

He was sentenced to nine months and a half in prison and was further ruled to serve suspended sentence in case he again participates in demonstrations.

“EU missions are concerned that the imprisonment of Shteiwi, who is deeply committed to non-violence, is intended to prevent him and other Palestinians from exercising their legitimate right to protest”.

To be noted, more than 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners are incarcerated in Israeli prisons, 786 of whom are serving a life or multiple life sentences.

M.N/M.H