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Jerusalem:
06 October , 1998
The Death
of a Palestinian Detainee in an Israeli Hospital
In
October 1995, Palestinian citizen Ahmad 'Asfour, 23, and
single, from the Arab Republic of Yemen, entered the Gaza
Strip with his family. He did not leave the Strip when his
visit permit expired. On 9/12/1997, 'Asfour tried to enter
Israel without a permit in search for a job. He was arrested
by the Israeli police, and immediately presented before a
court of law, where he was sentenced to 6 months
imprisonment. His prison sentence expired on 9/6/1998, but
the Israeli authorities adjourned his release until his
deportation from the country is executed. 'Asfour remained
illegally detained.
On 28/9/1998, one of the detainees who
had been released from prison in Bir Sheva, phoned 'Asfour's
family and informed them that 'Asfour tried to commit
suicide in detention, lost consciousness, and was taken to
Soroka hospital in Bir Sheva. On 4/10/1998, the said
hospital declared the death of 'Asfour.
Until today, the victim's family did
not receive an official death report neither from the
Israeli Authorities nor from the hospital. One member of the
victim's family was not even allowed to visit 'Asfour while
he was hospitalized.
Israeli prisons spokesperson Orit
Messer Har'el, claims that the detention of the deceased
continued because of the deportation order released by
Israeli Army officials.
The Palestinian Human Rights
Monitoring Group (PHRMG), condemns the illegal arrest of
Ahmad 'Asfour, and doubts his attempt to commit suicide. The
death of 'Asfour stresses the negligence of the Israeli
government with regards to Palestinian lives, and the
carelessness in providing security and safety for
Palestinians.
The PHRMG calls upon the
Israeli authorities to investigate such incidents and
release results and recommendations.
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