Women`s Organization for Political Prisoners (WOFPP)
P.O. Box 31811, Tel Aviv
Tel. and Fax +972-3-5227124
E-mail: trn1@zahav.net.il

The administrative detention of Etaf 'Alyan has been extended for six months

Etaf Alyan, 42 years old, administrative detainee, from Ramallah, mother of a 18 months old baby.

On 22 December 2005 she was taken from her house in Ramallah by the Israeli army to Hasharon Prison (Tel Mond). Following an appeal, her six months' administrative detention order was reduced to four months. On 23 February she was transferred to Neve Tirza Prison (Ramle). On 26 April 2006, the day Etaf 'Alyan was supposed to be released, the Defense Ministry issued an order to extend her administrative detention for another 6 months.

Administrative detention means that the detainee is being held without charge or trial, and the detention can be extended arbitrarily.

Etaf, a previous longtime prisoner, had been held in Israeli prisons over 10 years at different times. After her release and between her arrests, she established several social projects in Bethlehem: a center for women, and a kindergarten that developed into a primary school. After her marriage she moved to Ramallah and opened an Internet Café for women and girls who can surf and study Internet there.