PRESS RELEASE 26 June 1997 @ 5 PM local time

Arrest and injury of Nasser Radwan by personnel of Force 17

Nasser Al Abed Radwan, 28, married and father of three children, remains unconscious and in intensive care at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City following his arrest by Force 17, the Presidential security service, on Monday 23 June.

Fathi Al Abed Radwan, the brother of the victim, testified to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) that around 3 PM on Monday, 23 June, two persons from Force 17, Mahmoud Zaid and Wail Ghannam, demanded that Nasser Radwan accompany them in their vehicle with Force 17 plates without providing any explanation.

Later that same day, the family of Nasser Radwan went to the headquarters of Force 17 in Gaza to inquire about Radwan. At this time the family met with a Colonel who stated that if he were Mahmoud Zaid he would have shot their son (Nasser Radwan) to death. Then Mahmoud Zaid was admonished by the Colonel, in front of the Radwan family, blaming him for the problems because he arrested Nasser Radwan from his house and stated Zaid should have kidnapped Radwan from the streets and not have informed the family of his arrest, leaving the family to search for months for Radwan’s whereabouts.

During this meeting the Colonel also stated that Radwan “confessed,” but provided no explanation about to what Radwan confessed. The Colonel said that Radwan’s file would be forwarded to the office of the Attorney General and promised that Radwan would be released the same day after the family signed a statement saying they would not retaliate against Mahmoud Zaid or his family and that they would pay 10,000 Jordanian Dinar to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) if they breached the statement.

Nasser Radwan did not return to his home that day as the family was promised. The next day, 24 June, the family approached Force 17 again to inquire about the whereabouts of Radwan and was told that there had been a new development in the case because their son had banged his head on the wall following his confession and was therefore transferred to Shifa Hospital in critical condition.

Around 1 AM on 25 June, the family went to Shifa hospital. Fathi Radwan testified that he saw Radwan unconscious in the ICU and the doctors informed him that Radwan was in very critical condition.

 

Medical Report

According to the medical report, Nasser Radwan arrived at the hospital at 11:45 PM on 23 June in an ambulance accompanied by personnel from Force 17. Radwan was admitted into the hospital under the name “Prisoner 10.”

Primary information given to the hospital by Force 17 stated that Radwan fell down in his cell. The initial diagnosis for the patient was for severe injury to the head and complete unconsciousness with the possibility of bleeding in the brain.

Later, a clinical report stated that Nasser Radwan was in complete unconsciousness with no movement in any of his limbs. Examinations also showed that there were bruises on his left arm and right leg. Additionally, his left hand showed marks that indicated he had been tied with a wire. The report also showed that his beard and hair had been cut.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights calls upon the PNA to initiate an investigation in this case immediately and uncover all circumstances surrounding the case. There is substantial evidence to believe that Nasser Al Abed Radwan was exposed to beatings by individuals from Force 17 after he was illegally arrested. The Palestinian Centre demands that all perpetrators involved in this incident be brought to justice.