Israel’s authorities at Damon Prison have banned Palestinian women detainees from wearing hijabs, according to reports. The Israel Prison Service (IPS) reportedly confiscated religious garments, including hijabs, niqabs, and jilbabs, replacing them with grey tracksuits.
The move follows the appointment of a new prison director and is cited as a response to incidents in October 2023.
Qaddoura Fares, head of the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs, condemned the restrictions, labelling them as a violation of prisoners’ religious rights and humanitarian standards. He warned that removing hijabs and other clothing could also harm detainees’ health, particularly with winter approaching, as prisoners face severe shortages of warm clothing and blankets.
Fares stated that conditions at Damon Prison, which holds 94 Palestinian women, have worsened, with detainees subject to daily searches and frequent confiscation of personal belongings. Female detainees are also reportedly denied basic hygiene items, adequate food, and face strip searches, further eroding their dignity.
The majority of these prisoners are held under administrative detention, with neither charges nor trials, based on undisclosed evidence. Since October 2023, the Palestinian Authority estimates over 11,500 Palestinians have been arrested in the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.