Journalist Abed Abu Shehadeh freed after five days, no charges filed

Abed Abu Shehadeh walked out of a detention center in Petah Tikva on Sunday, Nov. 8, without seeing a judge. A hearing on extending his detention had been scheduled, according to Arab48, as carried by Sada News. The Spanish agency EFE reported that he was freed without appearing before any court.

He had been held for five days after the Shin Bet and Israel Police arrested him following a raid on his home in Jaffa. The arrest was over alleged contact with a foreign agent, Sada News reported. No charges were filed, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Abu Shehadeh hosts the podcast Al-Midan. Investigators focused on an interview he conducted with Azmi Bishara, a former Knesset member, and seized his computer and other devices, Arab48 reported. His lawyers argued that the interview was publicly accessible and was legitimate journalistic work, and Adalah, a legal rights group taking part in his defense, said police raised no other allegations during questioning, The Jerusalem Post reported. Days earlier, a court had extended his detention only until Sunday, rather than the eight days police had asked for.

None of the sources mentions conditions attached to his release. Qayd found no police statement.

The organization said police raised no other allegations during his questioning.— Adalah, as reported by The Jerusalem Post