Detained Palestinian rights lawyer wins press freedom award

A prominent Palestinian rights lawyer was among the grand winners of the prestigious Index on Censorship's 2024 Freedom of Expression Awards this week.   

Diala Ayesh, 28, who has been held in administrative detention by Israel since 17 January, is being honoured for her activism.  

She joins other renowned campaigners from around the world celebrated for their efforts to defend free expression and combat censorship.   

"Diala has worked for many years defending political prisoners and detainees in Israeli occupation prisons and Palestinian Authority facilities," Ayesh’s family said in a statement. 

"She has been tirelessly dedicated to defending stolen rights. Diala's nomination for this award comes in recognition of her efforts in defending freedom of expression and independent voices."

Earlier this year, Israeli forces arrested Diala Ayesh at a checkpoint near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

A week later, Israeli authorities issued an "administrative detention" order against her, allowing her to be held without trial or charge for four months.   

News of Ayesh’s arrest quickly spread across the occupied West Bank.  

Known for her years of pro bono work defending Palestinian political detainees in both Israeli and Palestinian Authority (PA) prisons, Ayesh’s detention has drawn widespread condemnation.  

According to human rights organisation Addameer, she was subjected to assault, threats, and verbal abuse by Israeli soldiers during her arrest.  

Initially held at Israel’s Hasharon Prison, she was later transferred to Damon Prison, where she remains.    

Ayesh gained prominence as a human rights defender during her time with the Ramallah-based Lawyers for Justice, where she represented Palestinian political detainees in PA prisons. 

Legal organisations, including the International Observatory of Lawyers and the International Bar Association, have called on Israeli authorities to end the targeting of human rights defenders like Ayesh.    

This year’s Freedom of Expression Awards also honoured Iranian journalist Nasim Soltanbeygi and the Ugandan media and advocacy organisation Kuchu Times.