1 February 1997

UPDATE

This morning, at 10:00 a.m. Yussef Ismail al Baba, 32 years old, died from wounds inflicted from torture during interrogation by the Palestinian Military Intelligence. Mr. al Baba died at 10:00 a.m. at Rafidiyye hospital. LAW has taken on this case at the request of his family.

Mr. al Baba owned a real estate company in Nablus, and was arrested on criminal charges. According to LAW’s information, there was no political motivation behind his interrogation or torture.

Since his arrest, the family tried every day to visit Mr. al Baba. The prison authorities consistently refused permission to visit. The authorities also have refused to allow a doctor representing the al Baba family to be present during the autopsy. LAW has petitioned the Civil Prosecutor to allow the family’s doctor to be present.

LAW - 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. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.