Ref: 67/2008

Date: 27 July 2008

Time: 11:30 GMT

PCHR Condemns Arrest Campaign against Hamas Supporters in the West Bank

PCHR condemns the campaign of arrests by Palestinian security forces against Hamas supporters in the West Bank over the past several hours. The Centre is concerned that these arrests are an act of reprisal in response to arrest campaigns  as well as raids and closure of dozens of Fatah-affiliated NGO’s and sports clubs in the Gaza Strip. The Centre calls upon the governments in Ramallah and Gaza to put an end to all forms of arbitrary arrests, and to immediately release all political prisoners on both sides.

The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that in the evening hours of Saturday, 26 July, a joint force of Palestinian security services embarked on an arrests campaign in several areas of the West Bank. Approximately 30 leaders, members, and supporters of Hamas were detained. The arrests were as follows:

Tulkarm: Security forces conducted arrests in the city of Tulkarm, Nour Shams refugee camp, and the villages of Anabta, Showeika, Saida, Ektaba, Far’oun, and Thannaba. They detained 17 people including:

• Sheikh Ammar Badawi (Tulkarm Mufti),

• Dr. Reyad El-Ras (Vice-President of El-Najah University) who was released after several hours,

• Sheikh Talal Jetawi (Director of Quran memorization centers in Tulkarm),

• Sheikh Mahmoud El-Hosar (ex-Director of Waqf in Tulkarm and Imam of Rawda Mosque),

• Sheikh Ammar Manna’ (Imam of the New Mosque in Tulkarm),

• Sheikh Mohammad El-Ghoul (Imam of Naser Mosque in Nour Shams refugee camp)

• Ahmad Radad (son of imprisoned PLC member Reyad Radad)

• Mr. Munir Omar (Director of Higher Education office in Tulkarm)

Qalqilya: Security forces detained 6 leaders and members of Hamas including journalist Mustafa Sabri, who is also a member of the Qalqilya Municipality Board, and Sheikh Reyad Walwiel (one of the most prominent Hamas leaders in the city).

Nablus: Security forces detained 6 Hamas leaders and members in the town of Qabalan wouth of Nablus. The detainees included Sheikh Ahmad Hasan Mousa Az’ar (an Imam and Principal of the Expatriates School in Beir Nabala).

Ramallah: Security forces detained Sheikh Shaker Abu Salim (Imam of Rantis Mosque).

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of political arrests and:

• Reminds of the Palestinian High Court decision of 20 February 1999 stating that political arrests are illegal; and calls upon all executive parties to respect the High Court decision and refrain from conducting illegal political arrests.

• Calls for the immediate release of all political detainees held by security services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.