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Israeli
High Court closes its eyes to torture
UPDATE:
Today, 12 June 2001,
the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected the petition
submitted by Abed Rahman al-Ahmar, The Public Committee
Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) and the Palestinian Human
Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG), demanding the immediate
cessation of the torture of Mr. al-Ahmar and the provision
of proper medical care denied to him until today.
Mr. Al-Ahmar was
brought to the hearing, and representatives of PCATI, PHRMG,
other human rights organizations and the media were also
present.
The petition was based
on two main points. First, that Mr. Al-Ahmar has been
subjected to a form of torture known as "shabeh,"
whereby he was tied in very tight handcuffs to a slanted
chair, with the front legs lower than the back legs. This
position causes a tightening of the back muscles and strong
pressure on the internal organs. The pain is exacerbated in
Mr. Al-Ahmar's case by the hiatal hernia and back problems
he already suffers from as a result of previous torture.
Secondly, Mr. Al-Ahmar
has also been denied proper medical care, as he has not been
given the medicine required by his medical condition. He was
sent to the hospital for a gastroscopy, but was denied the
numbing medication necessary to make this examination
tolerable and hence refused to undergo the painful
examination.
The State denied all
the charges, and the justices heard the GSS' arguments in
closed session.
Eventually, the Court
dismissed the entire petition. Regarding the torture, the
Court accepted as true the GSS denials, made behind closed
doors, that it used torture, such as "shabeh." The
judges added that they had observed the Petitioner, but
could not see any evidence of torture. This is highly
surprising given the fact that Mr. Al-Ahmar vomited in
court, and that, when he showed the red marks on his wrists
to the judges, they refused to let him approach for closer
observation and decided to ignore the evidence of abuse.
The Court also ruled
that Mr. Al-Ahmar was not given stronger medicine for his
back because of his hernia, but did not order necessary
alternative medication. The Court claimed that Mr. Al-Ahmar
himself refused the medical examination that was offered to
him, although Mr. Al-Ahmar took his decision only because he
knew from past experience that a gastroscopy given without
anesthesia causes excruciating pain.
PCATI and PHRMG are
appalled by the decision of the Israeli High Court, which
fails to uphold the standards of treatment for prisoners
secured in its landmark decision of 6 September 1999
outlawing the torture of detainees. Presented with evidence
that torture by the GSS has resumed, the High Court decided
to close its eyes rather than take a courageous, proactive
position. Today's decision seems once again to open the door
to practices of torture.
TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY
5 PM, WE WILL HOLD A VIGIL OUTSIDE THE RUSSIAN COMPOUND
DETENTION CENTER IN JERUSALEM TO PROTEST THE USE OF TORTURE
BY THE GSS. COME AND JOIN US!
The next hearing on
Mr. Al-Ahmar's detention may occur on Monday 18 June 2001 in
the Military Court located inside the Russian Compound
detention center, although the authorities have yet to
inform his attorneys of the date.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Mr. Abed Rahman
al-Ahmar is a well-known Palestinian human rights activist,
who works as a field researcher with the Palestinian Human
Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG). Mr. Al-Ahmar was arrested
and beaten by Israeli security forces on 24.5.2001 and has
since been held in detention, first at Gush Etzion military
detention center, and since Wednesday 30.5.2001 at the
Russian Compound detention center in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday,
30.5.2001, Mr. al-Ahmar's detention was extended by 20 days,
without the presence or the knowledge of Attorney Yossi
Schwartz, who represented Mr. al-Ahmar and had just visited
him on 27.5.2001. Attorney Schwartz filed an appeal of this
extension on Monday, 4.6.2001, but the appeal was rejected
the following day (5.6.2001) by the Military Court of
Appeals in Beit El, West Bank.
On 10.6.2001, Attorney
Allegra Pacheco discovered that Mr. Al-Ahmar had been
tortured, shackled in tight handcuffs to a slanting chair
for the entire day, a position known as "shabeh"
and outlawed by the Israeli Supreme Court on 6 September
1999. A petition was filed with the High Court against the
torture the next day, 11.6.2001.
Mr. al-Ahmar was
imprisoned several times in the past. He was tortured
repeatedly by the GSS while detained at the Russian Compound
and, as a result, still suffers from a hiatal hernia and
severe back problems. He sued the GSS for damages but the
decision is still pending. He has now been adopted as a
prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
LETTER-WRITING
IS EFFECTIVE!
We sincerely thank all
individuals and organizations who have expressed their
concern about Mr. Al-Ahmar's detention. Such a
letter-writing campaign is crucial to secure his release,
stop his torture and pressure the Israeli authorites to
provide him with adequate medical treatment. International
pressure and attention helps. We have already received
copies of more than one hundred letters of protest from all
over the world. We urge you to continue writing letters
every few days. We will update you continuously.
For further
details please contact:
PCATI - Hannah
Friedman: Tel. 02-5630073, 056-556442
PHRMG - Mireille Widmer: Tel. 02-5823372
Kindly send copies of
emails, faxes, or other correspondence regarding Mr.
al-Ahmar's detention to:
PHRMG <admin@phrmg.org>
Fax 02-5823385
PCATI <pcati@netvision.net.il>
Fax 02-566 5477
ALL THE COPIES OF YOUR
LETTERS WILL BE KEPT AND GIVEN TO MR. AL-AHMAR AFTER HIS
RELEASE! |
