June 23, 1996
Attorney-General Does Not Comply With High Court Order To Explain Detention Of Dr. Iyad Sarraj High Court Sets Hearing Date For 1st July 1996
Attorney-General Does Not Comply With High Court Order To Explain Detention Of Dr. Iyad Sarraj High Court Sets Hearing Date For 1st July 1996

 

URGENT COMMUNIQUE

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      ATTORNEY-GENERAL DOES NOT COMPLY WITH HIGH COURT

ORDER TO EXPLAIN DETENTION OF DR. IYAD SARRAJ

HIGH COURT SETS HEARING DATE FOR 1ST JULY 1996

Published @ 10:00 hours GMT/23rd June 1996

In the afternoon of Saturday 22nd June 1996, the Palestinian High Court in Gaza City, informed Raji Sourani, Dr. Iyad Sarraj’s lawyer, that the Attorney-General had not filed his response within the 5 day period provided by the High Court; on 16th June the Court had requested the Attorney-General to provide an explanation of the legal basis for the detention of Dr. Sarraj. A date for the next hearing at the High Court has been set for 1st July.

The Palestinian High Court, considered a petition filed by Raji Sourani on Thursday 13th June in which the lawfulness of the following was questioned: Dr. Sarraj’s arrest and continued detention; the procedures adopted, including the denial of legal access for Dr. Sarraj; and whether the State Security Court has jurisdiction over a matter of ordinary criminal law. The High Court required the Attorney-General to give a full explanation on these points within 5 days. On 1st July the High Court will give full consideration to the points raised in the petition.

Dr. Iyad Sarraj has now been in detention since midnight, 9th June 1996 when he was arrested at his home. On 13th June a Magistrates’ Court in Gaza City released Dr. Iyad Sarraj on bail, in relation to allegations of possession of drugs. An hour previously, without prior notification or legal representation, the State Security Court ordered the detention of Dr. Sarraj for 15 days on a new allegation of assaulting a police officer. It is on this basis that Dr. Sarraj remains in detention. This 15 day period expires on 27th June 1996.