Ref: 31/2014
Date: 13 March 2014
Time: 12:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the Attorney General in Gaza to initiate an investigation in the death of Mohammed Abu ‘Amra, from Deir al-Balah, in Khan Yunis prison yesterday evening. PCHR also calls for publishing the investigation’s results publically, especially as there is information that Abu ‘Amra suffered from chronic diseases.

According to information collected by PCHR from the family, at approximately 17:30 on Wednesday 12 March 2014, the deceased’s brother Ahmed received a phone call from a relative, who works in Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, telling him that his detained brother Mohammed Abdul Qader Abu ‘Amra (45) body was in hospital. He was brought from Khan Yunis prison to the hospital lifeless. Ahmed said to PCHR’s fieldworker that his brother Mohammed had been arrested by the Palestinian police from his house in al-Mahatta area, east of Deir al-Balah, on the grounds of a financial matter on 01 March 2014 and he was detained in Deir al-Balah prison. Ahmed added that he and his brother’s wife used to visit him in Deir al-Balah prison during his detention period. They noticed signs of fatigue and exhaustion, especially as he suffered from chronic diseases such as hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and clogging in the coronary artery. He also underwent a cardiac catheterization. Ali Madi, supervisor of the Correction and Rehabilitation Program in Khan Yunis prison confirmed to PCHR’s fieldworker that the deceased had medical reports proving that he suffered from many diseases including a cardiac problem.

Ahmed confirmed that he and the deceased’s wife requested the officers in the police station in Deir al-Balah many times that Mohammed needed medical examination to ascertain the seriousness of his condition. However the prison’s administration did not respond. Mohammed stayed in Deir al-Balah prison until 12 March. He was transferred at approximately 14:00 to Khan Yunis prison. His wife visited him there and confirmed that he told her he suffered from severe fatigue few hours before he was pronounced dead. Madi also confirmed it as he said that Abu ‘Amra fell to the ground in Khan Yunis prison, when detainees had been moved to another place fearing of Israeli attacks. Once Abu ‘Amra fell down, he was holding a sprayer in his hand. An ambulance was called to take him to Nasser hospital, but he died on his way to hospital.

The corpse was referred to the Forensic Department in Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The coroner said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Abu ‘Amra suffered from chronic and serious diseases, the most significance of which were hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arteriosclerosis. However, there were no signs of torture or beating on the corpse.

In view of the above, PCHR:

1. Calls upon the Attorney General and Ministry of Interior to seriously and promptly investigate the death of Mohammed Abu ‘Amra, especially as there are suspicions of medical negligence, and to publish the result publically;
2. Stresses that the Palestinian authority is responsible for the lives of prisoners and detainees under its control and thus is responsible for treating them with dignity, including offering them medical care, in accordance with the Correction and Rehabilitation Centers’ Law 1998; and
3. Highlights that the prisoner’s family has the right to claim compensation if it is judicially proven that the police disregarded keeping the life of their son.