10 july 2019
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR): On Tuesday, 09 July 2019, the First Instance Court issued a death sentence by hanging against J. M. (69), from Jabalia after convicting him with the murder of (A. A.) on 15 February 2018.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the ongoing use of death penalty in the Gaza Strip and calls upon the authorities to respect Palestine’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ Second Optional Protocol, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (Acceded in June 2018).
Since the beginning of 2019, three death sentences were issued in Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled areas. Thus, the total number of death sentences issued since 1994 reached 219: 30 in the West Bank and 189 in the Gaza Strip. Of the Gaza Strip sentences, 131 were issued after 2007.
PCHR confirms that any death sentence should not be executed without the Palestinian President’s ratification; and that any executions carried out without said ratification are considered an extra-judicial execution and those executing or issuing the sentence should be held accountable. PCHR also commends the President’s decision not to ratify any death sentence since 2005, and calls for a moratorium on the death sentence, in a prelude to its abolition from Palestinian legislations.
Since the establishment of the PA, 41 death sentences were executed: 39 in the Gaza Strip, and two in the West Bank. Of those executed in the Gaza Strip, 28 were carried out after 2007 without the ratification of the Palestinian President in violation of the Palestinian law.
PCHR emphasizes that issuing death sentences requires presence of the necessary litigation guarantees, particularly right to defense and not being subject to torture, and interrogation techniques that leads to having objective evidence-based convictions. These requirements are not available in the Gaza Strip; thus, PCHR calls upon the authorities to abstain immediately from using the death penalty.
PCHR also calls upon the Palestinian President to issue a law by decree to suspend the death penalty in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, until an elected legislative authority assumes the legislative power and abolishes it from Palestinian legislations.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the ongoing use of death penalty in the Gaza Strip and calls upon the authorities to respect Palestine’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ Second Optional Protocol, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (Acceded in June 2018).
Since the beginning of 2019, three death sentences were issued in Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled areas. Thus, the total number of death sentences issued since 1994 reached 219: 30 in the West Bank and 189 in the Gaza Strip. Of the Gaza Strip sentences, 131 were issued after 2007.
PCHR confirms that any death sentence should not be executed without the Palestinian President’s ratification; and that any executions carried out without said ratification are considered an extra-judicial execution and those executing or issuing the sentence should be held accountable. PCHR also commends the President’s decision not to ratify any death sentence since 2005, and calls for a moratorium on the death sentence, in a prelude to its abolition from Palestinian legislations.
Since the establishment of the PA, 41 death sentences were executed: 39 in the Gaza Strip, and two in the West Bank. Of those executed in the Gaza Strip, 28 were carried out after 2007 without the ratification of the Palestinian President in violation of the Palestinian law.
PCHR emphasizes that issuing death sentences requires presence of the necessary litigation guarantees, particularly right to defense and not being subject to torture, and interrogation techniques that leads to having objective evidence-based convictions. These requirements are not available in the Gaza Strip; thus, PCHR calls upon the authorities to abstain immediately from using the death penalty.
PCHR also calls upon the Palestinian President to issue a law by decree to suspend the death penalty in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, until an elected legislative authority assumes the legislative power and abolishes it from Palestinian legislations.
5 july 2019
The office of “Lawyers for Justice” has warned that the health condition of political detainee Alaa al-Basheer has seriously deteriorated as a result of her hunger strike.
Basheer has been on hunger strike for eight days in protest at her detention illegally by the Palestinian Authority preventive security.
Lawyer Dafer as-Sa’ayda said that Basheer suffers from convulsions, poor vision, fatigue and physical weakness.
The Palestinian Authority preventive security agency rearrested Alaa al-Basheer, a holy Qur’an teacher from Qalqilya, two days after releasing her on June 13. She had spent over one month in her first detention.
The preventive security has fabricated accusations against Basheer in order to justify her detention. She is accused of inciting sectarian strife, one of the claims usually used by the PA security agencies against political detainees.
Basheer has been on hunger strike for eight days in protest at her detention illegally by the Palestinian Authority preventive security.
Lawyer Dafer as-Sa’ayda said that Basheer suffers from convulsions, poor vision, fatigue and physical weakness.
The Palestinian Authority preventive security agency rearrested Alaa al-Basheer, a holy Qur’an teacher from Qalqilya, two days after releasing her on June 13. She had spent over one month in her first detention.
The preventive security has fabricated accusations against Basheer in order to justify her detention. She is accused of inciting sectarian strife, one of the claims usually used by the PA security agencies against political detainees.
29 june 2019
Political prisoner Alaa Basheer, a holy Qur’an teacher from Jinsafut village in Qalqilya, has been on hunger strike for three consecutive days despite her worsening health condition.
According to lawyer Muhanad Karajja, a Palestinian Authority (PA) court recently extended the detention of Basheer for 15 days at the pretext of giving time for more security investigation regarding her case.
In this regard, the family of Basheer appealed to all local and international human rights groups to necessarily pressure the PA to release her because she did not commit any crime.
The PA preventive security apparatus has fabricated accusations against Basheer in order to justify her detention. She is accused of inciting sectarian strife, one of the claims usually used by the PA security agencies against political detainees.
According to lawyer Muhanad Karajja, a Palestinian Authority (PA) court recently extended the detention of Basheer for 15 days at the pretext of giving time for more security investigation regarding her case.
In this regard, the family of Basheer appealed to all local and international human rights groups to necessarily pressure the PA to release her because she did not commit any crime.
The PA preventive security apparatus has fabricated accusations against Basheer in order to justify her detention. She is accused of inciting sectarian strife, one of the claims usually used by the PA security agencies against political detainees.
23 june 2019
Palestinian lawyer Muhannad Karrajah has revealed that political detainee Alaa al-Basheer suffers from psychological trauma and severe physical weakness.
“I visited and met with Alaa in the prison and she suffers from depression and trauma because of her exposure to ongoing detention,” Karrajah told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC).
Karrajah, a lawyer active in defending political detainees, said that the detention of Alaa for the second time was a violation of the court verdict that released her, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) preventive security apparatus accused her once again of receiving funds from illegal societies and stirring up sectarian strife.
The lawyer described the renewed accusations against her as unfounded and illegal.
A PA court recently allowed the preventive security to extend the detention of Alaa for another 15 days, according to the lawyer.
The preventive security rearrested Alaa al-Basheer, a holy Qur’an teacher from Qalqilya, two days after releasing her on June 13. She had spent over one month in her first detention.
“I visited and met with Alaa in the prison and she suffers from depression and trauma because of her exposure to ongoing detention,” Karrajah told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC).
Karrajah, a lawyer active in defending political detainees, said that the detention of Alaa for the second time was a violation of the court verdict that released her, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) preventive security apparatus accused her once again of receiving funds from illegal societies and stirring up sectarian strife.
The lawyer described the renewed accusations against her as unfounded and illegal.
A PA court recently allowed the preventive security to extend the detention of Alaa for another 15 days, according to the lawyer.
The preventive security rearrested Alaa al-Basheer, a holy Qur’an teacher from Qalqilya, two days after releasing her on June 13. She had spent over one month in her first detention.
14 june 2019
The Palestinian Authority (PA) preventive security apparatus on Thursday re-kidnaped Alaa Basheer, teacher of the holy Qur’an in Qalqilya city, two days after releasing her from jail.
The PA security forces released Basheer last Tuesday after she spent 34 days in arbitrary detention.
She was let go by the PA security after a defense crew from “Lawyers for Justice” managed recently to extract a court verdict ordering her release on bail.
Over a month ago, Alaa Basheer, 23, had been kidnaped by PA security forces from a mosque in the village of Jinsafut, east of Qalqilya, while she was teaching children the holy Qur’an.
The PA security forces released Basheer last Tuesday after she spent 34 days in arbitrary detention.
She was let go by the PA security after a defense crew from “Lawyers for Justice” managed recently to extract a court verdict ordering her release on bail.
Over a month ago, Alaa Basheer, 23, had been kidnaped by PA security forces from a mosque in the village of Jinsafut, east of Qalqilya, while she was teaching children the holy Qur’an.
30 may 2019
The family of political prisoner Alaa Basheer has appealed to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to release its daughter from its jails in the West Bank in order for her to spend the Eid al-Fitr holiday with her relatives.
The mother of Basheer said in press remarks that her daughter suffer from its ongoing wanton detention, especially as Eid al-Fitr is approaching, calling for her immediate release.
Alaa Basheer, who was kidnapped recently by the PA preventive security apparatus, is accused of stirring up sectarian strife despite the fact that there are not sects in Palestine.
The PA security apparatuses usually accuse citizens, especially from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, of inciting sectarian strife to justify their arrest.
The mother of Basheer said in press remarks that her daughter suffer from its ongoing wanton detention, especially as Eid al-Fitr is approaching, calling for her immediate release.
Alaa Basheer, who was kidnapped recently by the PA preventive security apparatus, is accused of stirring up sectarian strife despite the fact that there are not sects in Palestine.
The PA security apparatuses usually accuse citizens, especially from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, of inciting sectarian strife to justify their arrest.
20 may 2019
Human rights activist Suha Jabara said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces in the West Bank prevent political prisoner Alaa Basheer from seeing her family or lawyer.
Jabara said in press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the detention of Palestinian women for politically motivated reasons is a reprehensible and unacceptable practice, calling for taking action to stop PA security violations in the West Bank.
“If we do not stand strongly in the face of the injustice, its flood will reach the horizon,” she said.
The PA preventive security apparatus has been detaining 23-year-old Alaa Basheer illegally since May 9 when its forces kidnapped her from a Mosque in Jinsafut village in Qalqilya after ransacking her home.
Jabara said in press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the detention of Palestinian women for politically motivated reasons is a reprehensible and unacceptable practice, calling for taking action to stop PA security violations in the West Bank.
“If we do not stand strongly in the face of the injustice, its flood will reach the horizon,” she said.
The PA preventive security apparatus has been detaining 23-year-old Alaa Basheer illegally since May 9 when its forces kidnapped her from a Mosque in Jinsafut village in Qalqilya after ransacking her home.
18 may 2019
With no regard for the holy month of Ramadan, the Palestinian Authority (PA) continued to carry out political arrests in the West Bank, kidnapping an ex-detainee and summoning another.
In Nablus, the PA preventive security apparatus rounded up an ex-detainee called Abdul-Rahman Bishtawi a few minutes before Iftar.
The same security apparatus also summoned another ex-detainee called Husam al-Bistami for interrogation on Saturday morning.
In a related context, the PA intelligence agency extended the detention of Mahmoud Kharouf, an ex-detainee, for another 15 days and transferred him to one of its jails in al-Khalil.
Prisoner Kharouf is deprived of seeing his lawyer.
In Nablus, the PA preventive security apparatus rounded up an ex-detainee called Abdul-Rahman Bishtawi a few minutes before Iftar.
The same security apparatus also summoned another ex-detainee called Husam al-Bistami for interrogation on Saturday morning.
In a related context, the PA intelligence agency extended the detention of Mahmoud Kharouf, an ex-detainee, for another 15 days and transferred him to one of its jails in al-Khalil.
Prisoner Kharouf is deprived of seeing his lawyer.
2 apr 2019
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The Human Rights Institutions Association has sent a letter to Amnesty International, Human rights Watch, the Committee against Torture, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, regarding the torture practices in the prisons of the Palestinian Authority security services in Ramallah.
The letter was regarding the murder of 32-year-old Mahmud Rashad al-Hamlawi, from the Gaza Strip — and who has been living in Ramallah for years, in the prisons of the Preventive Security — on March 27, after he had been detained for 14 days, during which he was subjected to many types of torture and inhuman practices. |
The association clarified that the security services in the West bank, especially the Preventive Security and the General Intelligence, are conducting arbitrary arrests against Palestinian citizens, without legal justification or presenting them to competent judicial authorities.
The association added that “These practices are not the first of its kind. Suha Jabara, 30, has announced that she was subjected to torture by members of the Preventive Security Service.”
The association considered this crime as shocking and dangerous indicator on the human rights situation in the prisons of the security services in Ramallah, especially after Palestine accession to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The association mentioned, according to Days of Palestine, that it has received dozens of complaints regarding torture and arbitrary detention on the background of freedom of expression, stressing the lack of real and serious accountability for the perpetrators of torture crimes and members of the security services who violate the rules and regulations of detention approved by the Palestinian legislation.
The association, consisting of six human rights organizations, asked the international bodies to exert pressure on the Palestinian Authority to open a serious and independent investigation into this crime, with the participation of local and international human rights organizations, to hold accountable the suspects and participants in it.
The association added that “These practices are not the first of its kind. Suha Jabara, 30, has announced that she was subjected to torture by members of the Preventive Security Service.”
The association considered this crime as shocking and dangerous indicator on the human rights situation in the prisons of the security services in Ramallah, especially after Palestine accession to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The association mentioned, according to Days of Palestine, that it has received dozens of complaints regarding torture and arbitrary detention on the background of freedom of expression, stressing the lack of real and serious accountability for the perpetrators of torture crimes and members of the security services who violate the rules and regulations of detention approved by the Palestinian legislation.
The association, consisting of six human rights organizations, asked the international bodies to exert pressure on the Palestinian Authority to open a serious and independent investigation into this crime, with the participation of local and international human rights organizations, to hold accountable the suspects and participants in it.
28 mar 2019
The prosecution of Issa Amro, a prominent Palestinian human rights and anti-settlement activist, over a social media post critical of the Palestinian Authority (PA) “is another devastating blow for freedom of expression in Palestine,” Amnesty International said ahead of his first court hearing on March 28.
Issa Amro, a founding member of the Youth Against Settlements group, was arrested by Palestinian security forces on September 4, 2017 after criticizing the PA on Facebook for arresting a journalist in al-Khalil who had been critical of de factor president Mahmoud Abbas.
“It is disgraceful that Issa Amro is facing a prison term simply for expressing his views promoting human rights online. The Palestinian authorities should drop all charges against him immediately. Criticising an official should never be a crime. If imprisoned, Issa Amro would be a Prisoner of Conscience,” Saleh Higazi, Middle East and North Africa deputy director at Amnesty International, stated.
Upon his arrest by the preventative security forces in 2017, Issa Amro was detained for seven days during which he was allegedly tortured by interrogators from the joint security committee, a body from different security forces. He told Amnesty International that he was held in solitary confinement for five days and that he was punched and threatened with death by interrogators. He was then released on a $1,400 bail.
He has been charged with disturbing “public order” under Palestine’s draconian Electronic Crimes Law, as well as “causing strife” and “insulting the higher authorities” under the 1960 Jordanian Penal code, which is still enforced in the West Bank. If convicted, he will face up to two years in prison and a fine.
When he was released after nearly a week in detention he was told that his case was being frozen as the charges would be dropped and the case closed. However, last month a Palestinian court in al-Khalil reopened his case in an apparent effort to intimidate him into giving up his ongoing work that highlights both Israeli and Palestinian violations.
“The Palestinian authorities have a dire track record of harassing and intimidating peaceful critics and human rights activists. The ongoing persecution of Issa Amro is a dire sign that these unlawful trends are being perpetuated,” Higazi said.
Amro told Amnesty International that he had received death threats on social media and over the phone from supporters of Fatah, the Palestinian political party in power in the West Bank. He said that he feared for his personal safety and added that Palestinian authorities had also threatened those close to him in order to stop them from cooperating with him or with Youth Against Settlements (YAS) which he is associated with.
Last month, Fatah released a press statement urging civil society organizations in al-Khalil not to work with Amro or Youth Against Settlements and warning that those who do so would face retribution.
Amro said that Jewish settlers in al-Khalil have increased their intimidation and incitement against him and members of Youth Against Settlements following the Fatah press statement.
“The Palestinian authorities in the West Bank have a duty to ensure that human rights defenders such as Issa Amro are free to carry out their work without threat, intimidation, or abuse; failure to protect such activities and deliberate interference in their work is a flagrant violation of international law,” Higazi underscored.
Issa Amro, a founding member of the Youth Against Settlements group, was arrested by Palestinian security forces on September 4, 2017 after criticizing the PA on Facebook for arresting a journalist in al-Khalil who had been critical of de factor president Mahmoud Abbas.
“It is disgraceful that Issa Amro is facing a prison term simply for expressing his views promoting human rights online. The Palestinian authorities should drop all charges against him immediately. Criticising an official should never be a crime. If imprisoned, Issa Amro would be a Prisoner of Conscience,” Saleh Higazi, Middle East and North Africa deputy director at Amnesty International, stated.
Upon his arrest by the preventative security forces in 2017, Issa Amro was detained for seven days during which he was allegedly tortured by interrogators from the joint security committee, a body from different security forces. He told Amnesty International that he was held in solitary confinement for five days and that he was punched and threatened with death by interrogators. He was then released on a $1,400 bail.
He has been charged with disturbing “public order” under Palestine’s draconian Electronic Crimes Law, as well as “causing strife” and “insulting the higher authorities” under the 1960 Jordanian Penal code, which is still enforced in the West Bank. If convicted, he will face up to two years in prison and a fine.
When he was released after nearly a week in detention he was told that his case was being frozen as the charges would be dropped and the case closed. However, last month a Palestinian court in al-Khalil reopened his case in an apparent effort to intimidate him into giving up his ongoing work that highlights both Israeli and Palestinian violations.
“The Palestinian authorities have a dire track record of harassing and intimidating peaceful critics and human rights activists. The ongoing persecution of Issa Amro is a dire sign that these unlawful trends are being perpetuated,” Higazi said.
Amro told Amnesty International that he had received death threats on social media and over the phone from supporters of Fatah, the Palestinian political party in power in the West Bank. He said that he feared for his personal safety and added that Palestinian authorities had also threatened those close to him in order to stop them from cooperating with him or with Youth Against Settlements (YAS) which he is associated with.
Last month, Fatah released a press statement urging civil society organizations in al-Khalil not to work with Amro or Youth Against Settlements and warning that those who do so would face retribution.
Amro said that Jewish settlers in al-Khalil have increased their intimidation and incitement against him and members of Youth Against Settlements following the Fatah press statement.
“The Palestinian authorities in the West Bank have a duty to ensure that human rights defenders such as Issa Amro are free to carry out their work without threat, intimidation, or abuse; failure to protect such activities and deliberate interference in their work is a flagrant violation of international law,” Higazi underscored.
