Ref: 64/2009

Date: 20 May 2009

Time: 11:20 GMT  

PCHR Is Concerned over Measures Taken by Security Services in the Gaza Strip against Fatah Activists and Prominent Figures

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned over a series of recent measures taken by security services against a number of Fatah activists and prominent figures in the Gaza Strip. Security services’ actions include detentions and restrictions on the freedom of movement and the right to peaceful assembly.  PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to stop such measures. These actions violate the rights to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly as protected by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards.

PCHR’s investigations indicate that, at approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 19 May 2009, police officers stopped Dr. Jaber Ibrahim al-Da’our, 45, Vice President of al-Azhar University, and Dr. Yousef ‘Atallah Abu Safiya, 60, a former minister, near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. The two were on their way to Ramallah in the West Bank. The police confiscated their ID cards, passports and mobile phones, and forced them to travel back to Gaza. They were ordered to report to the security office in Abu Khadra complex next Sunday.

In another incident, at approximately 20:00 on Monday, 18 May 2009, police officers stationed near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing held Ahmed ‘Abdul Fattah Nasser, member of the Revolutionary Council of the Fatah movement, and Abu ‘Ali Mas’oud. The two are also members of the preparatory committee for the Fatah Conference. The police officers checked the two leaders, and arrested Nasser. At the time of writing, Nasser is still detained.

At approximately 11:30 on 18 May 2009, members of the Internal Security Service at Rafah International Crossing Point prevented Ramadan ‘Azzazi Baraka, 37, a former officer in the Preventive Security Services who is currently a lecturer at al-Aqsa University in Gaza, from traveling to Egypt. Baraka, who was on his way to Egypt and then to Algeria to attend a postgraduate program, was first detained by police at the border crossing, before being referred to the Internal Security Services. Baraka told PCHR that this was the seventh time he had been prevented from travelling.

On Thursday, 14 May 2009, security services took a series of measures against activists of the Fatah movement throughout the Gaza Strip. These measures included summoning, interrogation and movement restrictions intended to prevent the Fatah movement from carrying out activities to commemorate the Palestinian Nakba (the uprooting of the Palestinian people from their land).

PCHR is concerned over these measures and calls upon the government in Gaza to act to stop them and to abstain from restricting the rights to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly as protected by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards. PCHR further calls for the release of Ahmed ‘Abdul Fattah Nasser, member of the Revolutionary Council of the Fatah movement.