Palestinian political leader Sheikh Raed Salah has been released from a prison in occupied territories after 17 months in Israeli prison.
Salah, a Palestinian citizen of the occupied territories and former head of the northern Islamic Movement, was released from the so-called Megiddo prison on Monday just north of his hometown of Umm Al-Fahm, southwest of Nazareth city.
Dozens of people, including family, friends, and followers gathered along the main entrance to Umm Al-Fahm with celebratory music, banners, and boxes of sweets to greet Salah upon his return home.
Salah, the leader of the northern branch of Islamic Movement in Palestine, was detained in August 2017 and indicted for alleged “incitement” over his criticism of the erection of metal detectors at Jerusalem Al-Quds’ flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
He was sentenced to 28 months in prison by an Israeli court. He served 11 months in jail, half of which was in solitary confinement before he was moved to house arrest.
After two years under house arrest, in August 2020, Salah began a 17-month jail term on “incitement” charges.
A staunch defender of the Palestinian rights, Salah has staged a number of protests against Israeli policies and campaigned against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Source: Agencies
