Palestinian Military Court Sentences those responsible

for the death ofNassir Radwan

On 23 June, two members ofthe Force 17 arrested Mr. Radwan from his home. Twelve hourslater, Radwan was admitted to Shifa hospital in Gaza and waspronounced brain-dead. He was kept alive until 30 June, whenhe died of his injuries. The autopsy report revealed that Mr.Radwan had been tortured until death.

On 1 July, the Palestinianmilitary court issued judgments against 8 members of Force 17(the Presidential security service) accused of the torture deathof Nassir al Abed Radwan. The court condemned three men to death,2 received five years imprisonment, 1 to six months, and 2 wereexonerated of responsibility. The death penalty sentence mustbe approved by President Arafat before being carried out.

The Palestinian military courtconducted a special investigation and accused the 8 of torture,of conduct underming of the public confidence in the PalestinianAuthority, 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 thedriver for Colonel Farihat; and Mahmoud Fathi Hassan Zayyad,28 years old and Colonel Farihat's bodyguard.

Many Palestinian and InternationalHuman Rights institutions call on the Palestinian Authority notto uphold the death penalty, but instead to give a life sentencefor all three. They support the positive steps taken by the PalestinianAuthority to bring to justice those who violate the law, regardlessof position or standing.