PCHR Condemns Continued Detention of Islamic Jihad Leader in Violation of Law

5 October 2010
http://www.pchrgaza.org

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued illegal detention of Khader ‘Adnan Mousa, 32, a leader of Islamic Jihad, from ‘Arraba village southwest of Jenin, by the General Intelligence Service (GIS). PCHR is concerned over Mousa’s health condition, who had been in a hunger strike since the beginning of his detention on 29 September 2010. PCHR further reiterates its call for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and its security services to stop arbitrary detentions, and to release all political detainees as a step towards putting an end to the issue of political detentions.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of Mousa’s wife, Randa Mousa, at approximately 09:45 on Wednesday, 29 September 2010, a GIS force raided al-Qana’a Bakery opposite to the market of vegetables in Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, and arrested its owner, Khader Mousa. On Saturday, 02 October 2010, Mousa’s wife received a phone call from him, in which he informed her that he was presented to the Military Prosecution, and asked her to inform his lawyer to visit him. The wife stated, according to her husband’s lawyer, that the Military Prosecution accused him of joining illegal militias, and that he had been in a hunger strike since the first moment he was arrested. According to the wife, her husband was subjected to shabeh,[1] and his eyeglasses were confiscated.

PCHR repeats its condemnation of Mousa’s detention, and:

1. Reminds of the Palestinian Supreme Court of the Justice ruling on 20 February 1999, which considers political detention illegal and demands all executive bodies to respect the Court ruling and refrain from practicing political detention;

2. Emphasizes that detention is governed by the Palestinian law and falls within the competence of judicial warranty officers, represented by the police, under direct supervision of the Attorney-General; and

3. Calls for the immediate release of all political detainees who are held by Palestinian security services in the West Bank.

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org

[1] Shabeh is the combination of methods, used for prolonged periods, entailing sensory isolation, sleep deprivation, and infliction of pain.