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Jerusalem, December 09, 1999
Three Palestinian prisoners
tortured despite the Israeli High Court decision
Three young Palestinian men from Bethlehem have been
severely tortured in the Russian Compound prison in
Jerusalem, despite the ruling of the Israeli High Court in
September 1999 to abandon the practice of torture against
detainees.
The ruling of the High Court said that the use of various
interrogation techniques by the General Security Service (GSS)
was illegal, including torture or ill-treating detainees
during interrogation. The international community and local
human rights organisations welcomed this decision as a great
step forward.
Following the High Court ruling, the GSS reportedly ceased
using torture. Unfortunately, it is now clear that the
decision is not at all implemented by the GSS.
Mohammed Ali Hameid Souman, 17 years from Braitha’a, al-Ta’amreh
in Bethlehem, was arrested in his home on August 24 1999 and
taken to the Russian Compound prison in Jerusalem, where he
was interrogated for 55 days. The first 25 days he was
tortured severely. They covered his head with a dirty bag,
and forced him to sit in painful positions (Shabeh) for long
periods of time. Further, they forced him into a very small
and narrow cupboard where he could not move at all. The
torture made Mohammed to confess to charges of trying to
purchase guns, throwing stones and being a member of the
Islamic Jihad movement. His lawyer was not allowed to meet
Mohammad until 40 days after his arrest.
Ali Issa al-Wahsh, 20 years from al-Ta’amreh, Bethlehem, was
also arrested at his home the night of August 24 1999, and
taken first to ‘Atzion and then transferred to the Russian
Compound prison in Jerusalem. He was interrogated here for
70 days, being beaten and tortured severely. He was not
allowed to use the toilet for some days, and his health
deteriorated. He was not taken to hospital. As a result of
the torture, Ali confessed that he was a member of Islamic
Jihad, possessing and dealing with weapons. His trial will
take place on December 16 1999.
Ra’ed Ahmad Salem al-Hamri, 19 years from Braitha’a, al-Ta’amreh
in Bethlehem, was arrested from his home on August 21 1999.
He spent the first night in ‘Atzion and was then taken to
the Russian Compound where he spent 62 days in
interrogation. He was beaten and tortured, they put burning
cigarettes on his body and forced him to sit in painful
positions (Shabeh). During the interrogation he was
hospitalized at “Pikur Holem” on September 22, 1999 because
his health deteriorated badly during the detention. They
accused him of membership in Islamic groups, of dealing with
weapons and throwing stones. As a result of the torture, he
confessed to the charges.
The Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG)
collected the testimonies of the three boys through their
fathers and their lawyers.
Israel signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in October
1991. The PHRMG strongly oppose the sustained use of torture
against detainees in Israeli prisons. This practice is also
in breach of various other international treaties, such as
the International covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Celebrating the Human Rights Day 1999 tomorrow, the
Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG) find this
practice a great step backward for the situation for human
rights in Israel. We call for the immediate implementation
of the Israeli High Court ruling from September 1999.
Recommended action: Please send
telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in English, Hebrew
or your own language:
-emphasising to the Knesset members that this practice is
ignoring the High Court’s September 1999 ruling that the
GSS’s use of certain interrogation methods constituting
torture or ill-treatment is illegal.
APPEALS TO:
Ophir Pines MK
Leader of One Israel in the Knesset
The Knesset
Kiryat Ben Gurion
Jerusalem 91950
Israel
Telegrams: Ophir Pines, Jerusalem, Israel
Fax: + 972 2 652 1599
Salutation: Dear Mr Pines
Reuven Rivlin MK
Leader of the Likud in the Knesset
The Knesset
Kiryat Ben Gurion
Jerusalem 91950
Israel
Telegrams: Reuven Rivlin, Knesset, Jerusalem, Israel
Fax: + 972 2 652 1599
Yitzhak Vaknin MK
Leader of Shas in the Knesset
The Knesset
Kiryat Ben Gurion
Jerusalem 91950
Israel
Telegrams: Yitzhak Vaknin, Knesset, Jerusalem , Israel
Fax: + 972 2 652 1599
Yuli Edelstein MK
Leader of Yisrael B’Aliyah in the Knesset
The Knesset
Kiryat Ben Gurion
Jerusalem 91950
Israel
Telegrams: Yuli Edelstein, Knesset, Jerusalem, Israel
Fax: + 972 2 652 1599
And copies of appeals to diplomatic representatives of
Israel accredited to your country.
For more information, contact the PHRMG office: Tel: 972 2
6262463, Fax: 972 2 6262378, E-mail: admin@phrmg.org
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