PCHR Concerned by Detention of Khan Yunis Governor and Fatah
Activists by Gaza Internal Security Apparatus
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is
extremely concerned about the detention of Khan Yunis Governor Dr.
Osama Abd El-Sattar El-Farra, and three Fatah activists, who were
all detained by armed members of the Hamas Internal Security
Apparatus on Monday 19 May, 2008.
Testimony by Dr Osama El-Farra indicates that at
midnight on Monday, 19 May, gunmen in civilian clothes apprehended
Dr El-Farra at his house in the Sheikh Nasser quarter of Khan Yunis.
They also apprehended Eyad Nasser, the Khan Yunis Secretary General
of Fatah, Salem Abu Salah, the Deputy Secretary General and Dr
Nasser Ferwana, the Secretary General of Fatah’s office for
physicians in Khan Yunis. The four men were taken to the Internal
Security Apparatus compound west of Khan Yunis.
Dr El-Farra stated that he and the other men were all
questioned about an event being organized by the National Commission
for Civil Society Organizations to honor Khan Yunis Governorate
construction workers. Dr El-Farra said they were all accused of
incitement, and of inciting others by inviting them to the event.
They were all released at approximately 4 am.
The Interior Ministry Information Office subsequently
issued a statement, saying, “The Governor of Khan Yunis was summoned
on Monday morning as part of an enquiry into an invitation
distributed in Khan Yunis. This invitation indicated Fatah was
organizing an event in the Khan Yunis Governorate against what it
described as a coup in the Gaza Strip.” The Ramallah based National
Commission of Palestinian Civil Society Organizations had
distributed invitations to the event, entitled, “The First Fatah
Event to Honor Workers on the Anniversary of the Nakba after the
Bloody Coup.” The invitations stated the event would be held in Khan
Yunis Governorate on Monday 19 May, 2008.
·
PCHR condemns the
detention of Dr Osama El-Farra without consideration for his
official capacity, as well as the detention of three Fatah
activists. The witness testimony contradicts the Interior Ministry
statement that the detainees were summoned the following morning. .
·
The Centre affirms the
full and legitimate right of Palestinians to hold public assemblies,
demonstrations, and peaceful marches as forms of expression and
protest that are guaranteed by the Basic Law, and international
human rights instruments, conditional to the peaceful nature of
these activities.
