At the request of Justice Kobi Vardi, Ma'an lawyer Castro Daoud filed additional information in response to allegations by the Israeli Attorney General's Office, and insisted that Jared be brought out of the airport to attend a hearing on the matter. The attorney general had requested that no hearing be scheduled, saying Malsin's presence in court would complicate efforts by the Ministry of the Interior to deport the journalist, since moving him off airport property requires a change in visa status.
"We are alarmed by these arguments. In the view of Ma'an, they attempt to legitimize a continued policy of isolation for Jared for which the legal rationale is foggy at best," said network spokesman George Hale.
"However, we are confident that Justice Vardi is as concerned as we are with the Interior Ministry's lack of transparency, evidenced by its objections to Jared addressing these allegations in a court of law," he added.
Daoud argued that Malsin has a right to a full defense and, at the least, to be present at his own hearing. Daoud further contested the attorney general's rebuttal, arguing the listed reasons for denial of entry do not constitute valid legal justifications, and that they certainly do not trump the unprecedented violation of press freedom that would accompany Malsin's deportation.
According to court documents filed on Thursday evening, signed by an Israeli interrogator, Malsin was denied entry for "refusing to cooperate" and for violating visa terms.
Disturbingly, the documents also reveal that interrogators had gathered online research into the journalist's writing history, which transcripts indicate included news stories "criticizing the State of Israel," among other allegations he authored articles "inside the [Palestinian] territories."
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