LAW COMMENDS TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF TORTURERS
BUT CALLS FOR CANCELLATION OF DEATH PENALTY
4 July 1997
On 1 July, the Palestinian military court issued judgments against 8 members of Force 17 (the Presidential security service) accused of the torture death of Nassir al Abed Radwan. The court condemned three men to death, 2 received five years imprisonment, 1 to six months, and 2 were exonerated of responsibility. The death penalty sentence must be approved by President Arafat before being carried out. On 23 June, two members of the Force 17 arrested Mr. Radwan from his home. Twelve hours later, Radwan was admitted to Shifa hospital in Gaza and was pronounced brain-dead. He was kept alive until 30 June, when he died of his injuries. The autopsy report revealed that Mr. Radwan had been tortured until death.
The Palestinian military court conducted a special investigation and accused the 8 of torture, of conduct underming of the public confidence in the Palestinian Authority, and of violating the Criminal Code, articles 124, 165 and 384. The three sentenced to death are: Colonel Fathi Ibrahim Farihat, 50 years old; Staff Sergeant Wa’el Ghanem, 28 years old and the driver for Colonel Farihat; and Mahmoud Fathi Hassan Zayyad, 28 years old and Colonel Farihat’s bodyguard.
LAW calls on the Palestinian Authority not to uphold the death penalty, but instead to give a life sentence for all three. LAW supports the positive steps taken by the Palestinian Authority to bring to justice those who violate the law, regardless of position or standing.
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.