Iranian Espionage Defendant Petitions Court Over Denied Family Visits
Asher Benjamin Weiss, imprisoned for espionage for Iran, petitioned the Central District Court after being denied family visits for two years. The court ordered a review.
Asher Benjamin Weiss, a defendant convicted of espionage for Iran, has filed a petition with the Central District Court in Lod against the Israel Prison Service, claiming he is being denied family visits in prison. Weiss, recently transferred to Ayalon Prison and classified as a security prisoner, stated he has not received a single family visit in approximately two years.
During the court hearing, Weiss argued that the denial constitutes a violation of a basic right, noting that he submitted five administrative requests regarding family visits without receiving any response. "I have not received family visits for over 700 days," he stated, adding that under the Geneva Convention, detainees and prisoners are entitled to visits from close relatives.
A State Attorney's Office representative submitted a classified document to the court. Weiss objected, arguing that he cannot rely on a document submitted ex parte without being granted the opportunity to review it. A representative of the Prison Service added that the court must uphold the position of intelligence officials who strongly oppose his request.
During the proceedings, the Prison Service representative revealed that following a reassessment regarding family visits for individuals charged with espionage offenses, it was decided that each case will be evaluated individually, with final decisions subject to approval by the regional prison commander.
Judge Ron Sulkin, presiding over the case, ruled that Weiss's situation must be re-evaluated by the regional commander of the Prison Service to reconsider the possibility of allowing supervised family visits.
