Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Personnel

Field Update

13 April 2006

A Young Man a Victim of an Honor-Killing in Gaza City

In the ongoing security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) that includes vigilante justice, Khalil Sa’id Abdallah El-Aloul, a 21-year old resident of Naser neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed by members of a clan that claimed the victim had sexually assaulted their daughter.

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 16:30 on Wednesday, 12 April 2006, Khalil El-Aloul was killed by multiple stabs in crime defined as an honor-killing. The victim worked as a tailor in a workshop, located near the Ophthalmic Hospital in Gaza City, owned by the clan that killed him. The killers alleged that El-Aloul sexually assailed their 10-year old daughter. They killed him and threw him from the window of an apartment owned by the assaulting clan.

Forensic medicine sources in Shifa Hospital informed PCHR’s fieldworker that El-Aloul arrived dead to the hospital. Upon examination it was determined that he suffered several fatal stabs by a sharp object to different parts of the body, including the neck, chest, back, and abdomen. In addition, there were marks indicating that his hands were bound.

These sources indicated that the child alleged to have been assaulted was examined. The examination did not reveal any indicators that she was sexually assaulted.

PCHR strongly condemns this crime, and stresses the following:

–         This crime is an attack on the rule of law, falls under the policy of vigilante justice, and is part of the escalating security chaos plaguing the OPT;

–         This crime is a form of extra-judicial execution, which is a grave violation of human rights, especially the right to life and the right of freedom from torture and harsh and inhumane treatment;

–         The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is responsible for judicially pursuing the perpetrators of honor-killings. But this must be done within the framework of the law in order to ensure that suspects enjoy their full legal rights, including a fair trial;

–         The Centre calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate this crime, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.