Birzeit—The Human Rights Action Project (HRAP) of Birzeit University is concerned for the well being of student Ahmad Ibrahim Sa’id. Sa’id was arrested by the Palestinian Preventive Security Service on 13 April 1998 outside of the university gates at 5:15 p.m. He is currently being held incommunicado at the Preventive Security headquarters in Jericho without charge or trial and has been prevented from meeting with the HRAP lawyer since his arrest.
Ahmad Sa’id has been registered at Birzeit University since 1987. Because of the difficult political situation during the past 11 years and the extended closures of the university, Ahmad has faced many obstacles in completing his degree. He is currently in his last semester at the university before his graduation, a degree which has taken him over ten years to complete. Each day in which Ahmad is detained without charge holds serious consequences for the completion of his degree and will set him back a further year in his academic career.
The Palestinian Authority on its establishment committed itself to ensuring the basic human rights of all Palestinians living within autonomous areas. The Human Rights Action Project of Birzeit University calls on the Palestinian Authority to work within this commitment in order to participate in the formation of a Palestinian society based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. The continued detention of Ahmad Sa’id without charge, trial or legal counsel raises fears as to his well-being and is in contravention of international laws stipulating the basic rights of all detainees. HRAP asks the international community to add their voices in protest to the continued prevention of legal counsel and demand that Sa’id’s legal process be conducted according to international norms.
Letters of protest may be sent to:
President Yasser Arafat
Palestinian Authority
Al-Muntada
Gaza, Palestinian Authority
Fax: +972-7-822366
Mr Freih Abu Meddein
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Abu Khadra Building
Omar al-Mukhtar Street
Gaza, Palestinian Authority
Faxes: + 972-7-867109
Colonel Jibril Rajoub
Head of Preventive Security
Jericho, Palestinian Authority
Faxes: + 972-2-992-1273
[ENDS]
Human Rights Action Project homepage - http://www.birzeit.edu/hrap/