CPTnet
May 30, 2003
HEBRON: Israeli high court rules Greg Rollins can remain in country for
hearing

On May 29, the Israeli High Court overturned a deportation order and ruled
that Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) member Greg Rollins, 30, from Surrey
BC, can remain in Israel until his petition challenging his arrest on May 18
is heard. The Israeli government has until June 20 to answer the petition
and then will set a hearing date.

In the meantime, Rollins remains in Ramle prison near Tel Aviv. At a
hearing on May 27, Judge Sharon ben Shmuel, head of Israel's administrative
tribunal for deportations, refused to release Rollins pending his High Court
hearing. Rollins was not present at the hearing and the judge refused to
hear arguments from his lawyer. A re-hearing on his release from prison has
been set for June 1. Rollins' lawyer has asked that Judge ben Shmuel be
dismissed from the re-hearing because of her bias and refusal to hear
arguments.

Rollins' lawyer, Sani Khoury reports, "Greg is in good spirits. He wants to
be back in Hebron accompanying vulnerable civilians."

Rich Meyer, CPT's Hebron Team Support Staff, says, "Greg was doing nothing
wrong. He was observing activities in the Palestinian-controlled portion of
Hebron, as he has for the past two years. Hebron is not a closed military
zone. No charges have been laid against him and he should be released
immediately. We are concerned that internationals may be deterred from human
rights work by Israel's stepped-up harassment of them."