LAWE VISITS AL JUNEID PRISON IN NABLUS

PRISON AUTHORITIES ILLEGALLY CONFISCATE DOCUMENTS

12 August 1996

Nablus, West Bank -- A field-worker and a lawyer from LAWE visited al Juneid prison yesterday to investigate pervasive reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees. After four previous requests were denied, they finally obtained permission to visit four prisoners: Nassir Juma'a, Jamal Naboulsi, Muammar Mabrukeh and his brother Abdel Halim Mabrukeh. All four have been detained without charge for the past eight months and have been tortured by the Palestinian Coastal Police.

The lawyer for LAWE obtained powers of attorney and affidavits from the four prisoners, in order to follow their cases and pressure the Palestinian Authority to charge them officially or release them immediately. Upon leaving the prison, however, the Coastal Police confiscated the power of attorney documents and affidavits, offering the excuse that the permission issued for the lawyer was for a visit only, and that providing legal aid was therefore prohibited. Refusing to allow lawyers to visit the prisoners in the first place, and denying to the prisoners the right to an attorney represents a violation of the basic principles of human rights.

Treatment of Prisoners

Although these four prisoners report that in the last several days conditions have marginally improved, all stated that the interrogators in al Juneid prison routinely beat prisoners, and force them to stand for prolonged periods in painful positions. Of particular concern was the health and safety of Nassir Juma'a, who was transferred at the same time as Mahmoud Jumyal. Mahmoud Jumyal was tortured to death by the Coastal Police shortly after the transfer. Nassir also has tried to commit suicide three times while in the custody of the Palestinian police, but remained until recently in solitary confinement despite his precarious mental condition.

The four prisoners stated that their health conditions were improving, although Nassir Juma'a said his chest hurt and he found breathing difficult.

LAWE - the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human rights and the Environment once again condemns in the strongest possible terms the routine torture of prisoners in Palestinian prisons, and the detention without charge of hundreds of detainees. In addition, the Palestinian Authority has repeatedly denied lawyers access to their clients and the prisoners their right to legal counsel. The confiscation of the powers of attorney documents and the affidavits once again reveals little concern for the respect of basic human rights.

LAWE again holds the Palestinian Authority responsible for the treatment of prisoners in Palestinian jails, and condemns the continued and prolonged detention without charge of hundreds of prisoners. LAWE demands the immediate release of the detainees, and upholds their right to legal counsel.

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.