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PHRMG demands the immediate release of
Husam Khader who was illegally detained this morning by the
Israeli army. At 4 o’clock in the morning, over 30 Israeli
soldiers invaded the home of Mr. Khader in Nablus,
forcefully arresting him and taking him to an unknown
location while he was still in his pajamas. Additional
soldiers were guarding this illegal operation from the
vantage point of the rooftops from the neighboring seven
houses. Mr. Khader’s house was also surrounded by army
tanks, personnel carriers, and an ambulance for possible
wounded soldiers.
Mr. Khader’s house was forcibly
evacuated as Israeli soldiers blew the doors off with
dynamite, damaging the windows and walls, and then fired
excessively at the house causing wreckage. They then
confiscated Mr. Khader’s computer, telephones, official
stamps, files, and documents. Witnesses in Nablus, well
acquainted with the extreme violence of the Israeli
military, said this was the most horrific arrest they have
seen in the entire Intifada.
Mr. Khader is a member of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, a leader in the Fateh
movement, and since 1997, an independent member of the PHRMG
Board of Trustees. In 1997, Mr. Khader became an outspoken
pioneer in raising the issue of corruption within the
Palestinian Authority.
Israeli forces claim Mr. Khader is
affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade and a recipient of
illegal funds from Iran.
PHRMG
demands the immediate release of Husam Khader from Israeli
imprisonment. Arbitrary arrest, though normal procedure for
Israel, is clearly a violation of international law and
human rights. Article 9(1) of the U.N. International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states “Everyone
has the right to liberty and security of the person. No one
shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.”
PHRMG is also gravely concerned for Mr. Khader’s personal
well-being, as torture and degradation are typical Israeli
procedures and abusive force has already been demonstrated
in the manner of this arrest.
PHRMG
condemns the relentless violence of the Israeli army, who
terrorizes citizens in the night, arresting without warrant,
violating innumerable human rights and international laws.
PHRMG beckons everyone concerned with human rights to
protest to the Israel embassy in their country with letters,
faxes and phone calls on behalf of Mr. Husam Khader. A list
of appropriate contacts follows below.
London
Public Affairs
info@israel-embassy.org.uk
Tel 0171-957 9500
Fax 0171-957 9555
Rome
Tel. centralino 0636198500
Fax 0636198555
israel.roma@agora.stm.it
Japan
igto@israel.co.jp
Netherlands
Telefoon 070-3760500 (centrale)
Fax 070-3760555
EMAIL
ambassade@israel.nl
Zealand
Embassy of Israel, Wellington
Tel 04 472 2368
Fax 04 499 0632
E-Mail
israel-ask@israel.org.nz
Stockholm
08-661 33 09 Fax 08-662 53 01
israel.embassy@swipnet.se
Washington DC
Tel (202) 364-5500
Fax (202) 364-5423
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