20 June 2001

Press Release

On the health condition of Eng. Ghoushe detained in Amman airport

Commenting on the reported deterioration of Eng. Ibrahim Ghoushe’s health condition, who is detained in Amman Airport, a responsible source in the Hamas Movement stated the following:

We follow up with utmost concern in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, along with family of Eng. Ghoushe the information that recently pointed to the worsening of his health condition. This deterioration comes at a time when the Jordanian Authority is still insisting on detaining him in Amman Airport under inhuman circumstances for the sixth consecutive day and insisting on preventing him from entering his country while trying to deport him anew.

Eng. Ghoushe, 65, suffers from high blood pressure along with other diseases that necessitate constant health care and necessary treatment in fixed dates under doctors’ supervision. Detaining him and refusing his admission into a hospital might pose a danger to his health and life.

In the light of the aforementioned and in the light of the Jordanian Authority’s refusal to hospitalize Ghoushe and its rejection of numerous requests to see him, including demands by the chief of the Jordanian bar and the chief of the Jordanian doctors syndicate, we hold the Jordanian government and its security bodies the full responsibility over health, life and security of the Engineer. We demand his immediate release and an end to his oppressive detention to enable him enter his country Jordan.