Rebuking police, court rejects request to access protesters’ phones

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court has rejected a police request to gain access to the cellphones of anti-government activists who were arrested during a protest outside the prime minister’s residence on Saturday night, and also criticizes the police for keeping another detainee in detention overnight.

Five activists were arrested by police for disturbing the public order; although they were subsequently released, the police insisted on keeping their phones.

In a hearing earlier today, the judge refused to grant the police request for access to the activists’ phones, saying that disturbing the public order was not sufficient grounds for such a step, and ordered the police to return the devices to the activists.

Another activist was arrested on suspicion of seeking to use some type of grenade, although she had actually used a smoke candle, which is legal, according to court documents.

The judge criticized the police for holding the woman instead of releasing her with restrictions, telling the police that if there was no concern over possible obstruction of justice or of the suspect being posing a danger to herself or others, then there was no reason to detain her.