Ref: 79/2010

The Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR) condemns detention and harassment of members of the ‘Amru family
by Palestinian security forces that raided the family’s house in Dura village
near Hebron. PCHR calls upon the government and security officials in Ramallah
to issue strict instructions with regard to the use of force by law enforcement
officials, in order to maintain the dignity of the Palestinian people, for home
the police and security forces are formed.

According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, at approximately 13:20 on Friday, 03 September 2010,
Palestinian security forces stormed Sinjer quarter in the east of Dura town,
southwest of Hebron, in order to arrest Ahmed ‘Eissa ‘Amru, 67, claiming that
he delivered a sermon in a mosque inciting against the Palestinian
Authority. Security officers insulted
and violently beat members of his family, including women and children. As a result, 11 persons sustained bruises
throughout the body, including 4 women and two children. Two of the injured were taken to a hospital
in Hebron. Security forces also arrested
6 members of the family and took them to the headquarter of the Preventive
Security Service (PSS). There, the
detainees were violently beaten and forced to sign a written statement pledging
not to confront Palestinian security forces, before they were released in the evening. According toe the released detainees, the
detention of ‘Amru was based on false information received by the PSS that he
delivered a sermon in a mosque inciting against the Palestinian Authority,
although he did not deliver any sermon on that day.

PCHR strongly condemns this attack,
which was based on false information, raising concerns over the efficiency of
the process of decision-making in security services, and:

1) Calls upon the
government and security services in Ramallah to issue strict instructions with
regard to the use of force by law enforcement officials to ensure the non-use
of excessive force, and in order to maintain the dignity of the Palestinian
people and respect for international human rights standards.

2) Emphasizes that
detention is covered by Palestinian law and falls within the competence of
judicial warranty officers, represented in the police, who work under the
direct orders and supervision of the Attorney-General.

3) Calls upon the
Attoreny-General to investigate this attack, publish the results and bring the
perpetrators to justice.