Ref: 44/2013
Date: 30 April 2013
Time: 10:44 GMT

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned over the attacks carried out against the participants in two peaceful sit-ins organized by Hizbut-Tahrir in Tulklarm. These attacks included beating and arrest by officers of the Palestinian security services. PCHR calls upon the Attorney General to open a serious investigation in these incidents and publish the results of their investigations on public. PCHR also calls the Palestinian government in the West Bank to stop these attacks, and to respect the Palestinian right to peaceful assembly, guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 12:00 on Saturday, 27 April 2013, dozens of members and activists in Hizbut-Tahrir gathered near Martyr Jamal Abdul-Naser Square in the centre of Tulkarm, in the north of the West Bank, in protest to the arrest of a number of their colleagues on Thursday, 25 April 2013. A large unit of officers of the Palestinian security services arrived at the scene and started beating the participants with sticks and clubs, and violently dispersed the sit-in. Moreover, security officers arrested more than 30 of the participating civilians, who have been under arrest so far.

The security services violently dispersed a similar sit-in for Hizbut-Tahririn the same place on Thursday, 25 April 2013. According to the observations of PCHR staff, at approximately 13:00 on Thursday, dozens of activists in Hizbut-Tahrir gathered near Abdul-Naser Square, to protest the U.S Secretary of State’s initiative. Large units of security services arrived at the scene and violently dispersed the sit in, firing tear gas canisters and beating the participants with sticks and clubs. Furthermore, the security services arrested approximately 20 participants, two of whom were released for health reasons, while others have remained under arrest so far.

PCHR is concerned over the violent dispersal of two peaceful sit-ins in Tulkarm by security services, and:

1. Calls upon the Attorney General to open a serious investigation in the circumstances of the attack against the participants, which was carried out by members of the security services, and to publish the results of the investigation on public;
2. Calls upon the government in the West Bank to issue clear orders to halt all practices carried out against participants in sit-ins and demonstrations, and to respect the right to peaceful assembly that is constitutionally ensured;
3. Calls upon the Palestinian security services to respect international human rights standards, the Palestinian Basic Law and other related laws.