PRESS RELEASE
The Palestinian Police Detain A Number of the Leading Members of
Al-Khalas Islamic National Party
Ref.,: 26/99
Date: 6th March, 1999
On Thursday 4th March 1999, Palestinian police detained the members of the political bureau of Al-Khalas Islamic National Party during a meeting of the political bureau. During the meeting, Palestinian police forces raided the party’s premises and arrested all those who were participating in the meeting. Those arrested requested that they go the General Directorate of the police by their own transport, but the police refused and transported them by police mini-bus.
The members of the political bureau were released at 3:00 on Friday morning after being informed by the police political security officer that the reason for their detention was the PNA’s dissatisfaction with a press release that the party had issued.
Al-Khalas party had previously issued a press release criticizing the State Security Court’s charge of three young people, considering that this court is a political one that lacks the foundations of a fair trial.
Before their release, the members of the political bureau of Al-Khalas party were asked to sign a commitment to respect the laws in force. All were then released except Dr. Ghazi Hamad, the spokesman of Al-Khalas party, who was moved to the Preventative Security Forces premises in Gaza. At the same time, the Security Forces carried out a wave of arrests against Al-Khalas party supporters and arrested a number of them, who have not yet been released.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its deep concern about the misconduct of the Palestinian police, especially regarding the right to assembly and the right to freedom of expression. PCHR calls upon the PA to immediately release Dr. Ghazi Hamad and all those supporters of the party who were detained for the same reason. Furthermore, the Centre asks the PNA to remove all the restrictions imposed on political parties and to ensure that they can practice their work in freedom.
For More Information Contact:
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Tel/Fax: (+) 9727 2824776/2823725
E-mail: [email protected]
