Press Release

25 August 1998
Press Release Index
AL-HAQ CONCLUDES THAT THE DEATH OF QAWASMEH WAS DUE TO TREATMENT AMOUNTING TO TORTURE.
Al-Haq regards with grave concern the death of 51 year-old Walid Qawasmeh, who died on the 9th of August while in the custody of the General Palestinian Intelligence at the Detention Center in Jericho. (see al-Haq Press Release 13/8/98)
Al-Haq, along with other human rights organizations, has exerted great effort to obtain an official copy of the autopsy report and the results of the investigation into his death, but our efforts have been to no avail as the responsible Palestinian bodies have continuously delayed releasing it.
However, according to information that was made available to al-Haq from an official source in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and from other reliable sources, the autopsy indicated that Mr. Qawasmeh was subjected to severe psychological and physical torture.
According to the autopsy, Mr. Qawasmeh's death came as a result of suffocation due to a secondary cerebral hemorrhage and lung oedema that led to respiratory failure. This was due to an external trauma to the skull in the temporal area.
Al-Haq views Mr. Qawasmeh's death as a gross violation of Palestinian human rights. According to al-Haq's documentation twenty Palestinians have died while in the custody of the Palestinian Security Apparatus since July 1994 (please see attached list). These deaths represent a widespread, systematic and consistent pattern of mistreatment of Palestinians in PA facilities. These acts are clear violations of international conventions, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any form of Detention or Imprisonment.
It is important to note, that the Palestinian Authority has unilaterally adopted all the treaties and international conventions that are related to human rights.
Al-Haq is concerned that this pattern will continue unless Palestinians prisoners and detainees are treated in accordance with international human rights standards. Therefore al-Haq demands the following:
  1. The immediate release of the official autopsy and the primary report of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest, detention and death of Mr. Qawasmeh.
  2. The establishment of a permanent committee, composed of the Military Attorney General and other representatives of the Palestinian Security Apparatus, to ensure that Palestinian prisoners and detainees are treated by the Palestinian Security Apparatus in accordance with those requirements specified in the above-mentioned instruments and international human rights laws and principles.
  3. That the Palestinian Authority should take firm steps to ensure that the Palestinian Security Apparatus respect its commitment to international treaties and denounce torture, all forms of mistreatment, harsh punishment, and inhumane or humiliating acts. In addition, It is imperative that steps be taken to ensure the prosecution, with sound and public legal procedures, of all those who are responsible for human rights violations or excess, whether relating to this particular event or to the work of the Palestinian Security Apparatus in general.
  4. That the Palestinian Legislative Council form a special committee, which specifically deals with prisons and detention centers, to monitor on a regular basis the conditions of detainees and prisoners and their place of detention and imprisonment to ensure the compliance of the Palestinian Security Apparatus with international standards, in addition to insure that those who are in charge of such facilities be held responsible when a violation occurs.
  5. That all procedures of arrest that are adopted by the Palestinian Security Apparatus, including the General Intelligence, the Police, the Preventive Security, and all other divisions, be presented to the public in order that they be aware of their rights and to ensure that those rights are protected by the law.
  6. That the principles of the rule of law, the protection of public freedom, and the rights of Palestinian residents be strengthened.

-END-

Please note the following correction to al-Haq press release of 13/8/98:

Paragraph 3 should read as follows (correction underlined).

"According to al-Haq's documentation, seven Palestinian administrative detainees have died while in the custody of the General Intelligence branch of the Palestinian Security Services since July 1994. ..."