For immediate release: 9/8/96

PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES ARREST 120 TULKAREM RESIDENTS AND TRANSFER THEM TO JNEID PRISON IN NABLUS

(Jerusalem) On August 2, Palestinian Security forces began carrying out a wave of arrests in Tulkarem following a demonstration protesting the continued detention without trial of prisoners in Palestinian jails. During this demonstration, several protesters were shot and killed from live fire by the Palestinian forces. Also during the demonstration several prisoners escaped. Afterwards, the Palestinian Security forces released 23 prisoners from the Tulkarem prison who did not attempt to escape.

After two days of searches and round-ups resulting in 120 arrested, the Palestinian security forces transferred the new detainees to the Jneid prison in Nablus where many cases of torture (some leading to death) have been documented. On August 7, a LAWE attorney and fieldworker attempted to visit Jneid prison, but were barred by the Palestinian security forces.

• LAWE protests the arbitrary mass arrests in Tulkarem and calls on the Palestinian Authority to release the 120 detainees or bring them to trial immediately.
• LAWE protests the continued detention without trial of these and all prisoners in Palestinian jails.
• LAWE demands a cessation to the use of torture by the Palestinian security forces and an immediate improvement in prison conditions.
• LAWE also calls on the Palestinian Authority to permit lawyers and human rights workers to visit the detainees in Jneid prison.

________________________________________________

LAWE-The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.