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## Nachricht <6ftCqonDg2B@forum.nadeshda.gun.de> vom 15.10.97 21:20 weitergeleitet
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## Ersteller: i.musa@NADESHDA.gun.de (Izzeddin Musa)

## Nachricht <34440853.34C6@trendline.co.il> vom 14.10.97 17:03 weitergeleitet
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==========================3D F  r  e  e  d  o  m ==================3D========
  auto-info: help@alquds.net  >>>> Linking Palestinians & Their Friends
==========================3D=========================3D======================

SCORES OF HAMAS DETAINEES ON HUNGER STRIKE

Hamas protest unlawful detention in Palestinian gaols


Released on 14 October 1997 at 13:00 hours GMT


For the third consecutive day, scores of prisoners affiliated to  
theIslamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) have been on hunger strike  
inPalestinian prisons. In a letter received by the Palestinian Centre  
forHuman Rights, the hunger-striking prisoners stated that they  
wereprotesting against their illegal and unjust detention. They stated,  
inthe letter smuggled out from the prison, that the situation in  
theprisons is close to explosive and that they were being detained  
as�hostages of a political process without start or end�.
The lawyers of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, despite  
numerousrequests, have not yet been permitted to visit any of thehunger- 
striking prisoners. The prison administration will only permitsuch access  
when a permit is granted by President Arafat or the PoliceChief Ghazi  
Jabali. Presently the Palestinian Centre is seeking toobtain special  
permission from the Attorney-General to visit theprisoners and to assess  
their health and conditions of detention.
Information received by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rightsindicates  
that some 50 detainees affiliated to Hamas began an open-endedhunger  
strike on Sunday 12 October 1997. In response, the securityforces separate  
them and consequently their conditions of detention maybe worse. Whereas a  
groups of prisoners usually occupy large cellstogether, the hunger- 
strikers have been separated and moved to smallercells; four detainees to  
a two-person cell. Others have been moved fromGaza Central Prison  
(Saraya). Ten were moved to Police Headquarters inGaza City. While another  
two were moved to the Preventive Securityheadquarters.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights warns of the deterioration ofthe  
conditions and health of the Hamas detainees and calls upon thePalestinian  
National Authority to release them, and should publiclydeclare their  
intention to respect human rights and the rule of law.

In particular, the Palestinian National Authority should resist  
pressurefrom foreign governments, in particular the United States and  
Israel toviolate the human rights of the Palestinian people. Especially as  
anumber of these prisoners were detained in similar circumstances in  
lateFebruary 1996, when an arrest campaign was undertaken against  
Hamasactivists following suicide bomb attacks.

Then, as now, the detainees were arrested without due process, heldwithout  
charge and are being denied the possibility of being broughtbefore a  
judge.
Other instances of illegal imprisonment and violation of due processhave  
occurred recently. On 15 August 1997, 11 prisoners were releasedupon an  
order by the Attorney-General Fayez Abu Rahmah but they werere-detained  
three hours later by Palestinian security services.
The Palestinian Legislative Council and Palestinian human rights  
groupshave asked for the release of all these prisoners, or, as required  
bylaw, for them to be brought before a court for a fair trial. In  
everyinstance, these detainees have been persistently and steadfastly  
deniedthese basic rights.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights while acknowledging there  
arepolitical pressures exerted believes that the Palestinian  
NationalAuthority should respect the rule of law and human in Palestine in  
theface of these demands to violate Palestinian human rights.
Indeed, it is absurd that the Palestinian National Authority isundertaking  
these arrests and detentions at the very same time that theIsrael is  
releasing leading Hamas activists.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights demands that all thoseunlawfully  
imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs arereleased.




For further information please contact PCHR on telefax: (+) 972 7 825893/
824 776 or on e-mail: pchr@trendline.co.il