Press Release

The High Court of Justice Orders the Preventive Security Forces to Immediately Release The Detainee Imad Jabr El Amasi

Ref: 41/2000

Date: 4^th April, 2000

On its session held on February 4^th April 2000, the High court of Justice ordered to release Imad Jabr El Amasi, 29 years old from Jabaliya, who has been imprisoned by the Preventive Security Forces since 16^th March 1996, without due legal process.

After being appointed to represent the above-mentioned detainee the lawyers of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights submitted on 28^th October 1999 application to the High Court of Justice for his release. At that time the High Court of Justice granted the Attorney General, as the representative of the Preventive Security Forces, a respite of eight days to answer the application.

Sometime later, the Attorney General’s office submitted the response to the application, in which it was claimed that the detention of the detainee was legal since his detention were extended by the State Security Court. PCHR’s lawyer refuted the Attorney General’s claim since it is contrary to due legal process to hold a detainee for a period of more than four years without any charges.

The High Court of Justice issued decision to immediately release Al Amasi after the Attorney General’s representative testified before the Court to the absence of any charges against him, and after it was proven that the Attorney General’s office had no information in this regard except the imprisonment order. Moreover, the Attorney General’s representative testified that there were no applications to the Attorney General’s office to extend his imprisonment beyond 30 days.

PCHR expresses its satisfaction with the Court’s decision and hopes the decision will be respected and executed through the immediate release of the mentioned detainee. Furthermore, PCHR demands compensation for him for his illegal imprisonment. At the same time, PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of all the High Court of Justice’s decisions issued for the release of detainees still being held in Palestinian State Security Forces’ prisons, amongst these detainees are:

1. Wa’el Ali Faraj – the Court decision to release him was issued 20 February 1999, and he is held in the General Intelligence’s prison.
2. Ameen Shafieq Diab – the Court decision to release him was issued 10 June 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s Prison.
3. Abed El Nasser Karsoo’a – the Court decision to release him was issued 1 July 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
4. Mohamed Musa Jadallah – the Court decision to release him was issued 6 July 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
5. Abed El Raheem Jahjooh_ the Court decision to release him was issued 3 October 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
6. Adel Aql Abed El Rhmaan- the court decision to release him was issued 6 October 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
7. Fawzi Mohamed Abu El Qarah- the court decision to release him was issued 18 October 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
8. Wa’el Talab Nassar- the court decision to release him was issued 8 November 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
9. Khaleel Ahmad Abu U’da – the court decision to release him was issued 8 November 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
10. Nasser Al Attar- The court decision to release him was issued 14 November 1999, and he is held in the Central Gaza’s prison.
11. Ayoub Ahmad Ataa Allah-The court decision to release him was issued 10 July 1999, and he is held in Central Gaza’s prison.
12. Ibrahim Mohammad Abu Alwaan-The court decision to release him was issued 18 October 1999, and he is held in Gaza central prison.
13. Mohammad Saqer Raghib El Zatma-The court decision to release him was issued 23 February2000, and he is held in Gaza central prison.
14. Riyad Salaeh Abu Hasheesh-The court decision to release him was issued on 23 February 2000, and he is held in the general intelligence prison.

Moreover PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to immediately decide on hundreds of similar cases of Palestinian detainees who are held in its prisons contrary Palestinian law. PCHR affirms the fairness of these detainees’ request to be immediately released or to be brought before a just civil court according to the law.