Gaza City—Al Mezan Center for Human Rights expresses grief by the death of Felicia Langer, a Jewish Pole by birth who lost most of her family during the Holocaust and dedicated her legal career to defending Palestinians’ human rights in Israeli courts. Langer was among the few Israeli lawyers to criticize Israel’s policies and judicial system, both of which she saw as oppressive. Among other highlights of her career, she was publicly opposed detention orders, land expropriations, forced deportations, and house demolitions.

As Israel continues violations of human rights, defenders like Langer remain a source of inspiration to advocates of peace and justice. When Palestinians had virtually no way of seeking justice at Israeli courts, she was among those who led the way to provide representation and advocacy for them,. As she continued to denounce oppression and promote peace, she relentlessly bore the brunt of public pressure and even threats to her safety until she had to leave Israel in protest and emigrate to Germany. “I decided I could not be a fig-leaf for this system any more,” she commented on her acceptance of a university teaching post in Germany. “I want my quitting to be a sort of demonstration and expression of my despair and disgust with the system…because, for the Palestinians, unfortunately we cannot obtain justice.” [1]

During her time in Germany, she remained loyal to her faith in the legitimacy of human rights. In addition to lecturing, she authored and published several books on different themes of Israeli violations. In recognition of her tenure-track courage and dedication, she received several awards, including the 1990 Right Livelihood Award, and in 2009 the Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit.

On Friday, 22 June 2018, Langer lost her life to cancer but she live in the memory of human rights activists as a strong voice for the deliberately silenced around the world. On this occasion, Al Mezan sends its deepest condolences to her family, friends and loved ones. Al Mezan iterates that the sacrifices made by defenders like Langer shall always brighten the path to do more in protection and promotion of human rights.