Ref: 111/2020

Date: 26 October 2020

Time: 10:00 GMT

On Sunday evening, 25 October 2020, Abdul Latif Mohammed Ibrahim (45) died while in detention at a Palestinian Preventive Security Service (PSS) prison in Tulkarm. Adnan al-Damiri, Spokesman of the Palestinian security services, stated to local media that the detainee died suddenly, and he was not being interrogated. He asserted that an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of death, and that its results will be announced following autopsy.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its deep concern over the recurrent cases of deaths inside Palestinian prisons and detention centers under various circumstances. PCHR highlights that the life of a detained person falls within the responsibility of the prison’s administration according to the Law of Reform and Rehabilitation Centers 6/1998, and the UN Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

According to PCHR’s information, at approximately 04:30 on Sunday, 25 October 2020, coinciding with Fajir prayer, one of the detainees in the PSS prison’s detention cell heard a strong drop sound coming from the bathroom, he went to check it out and called on the person inside without response. Other detainees in the cell, including Ibrahim’s brother and cousin, woke up and found him on the ground after hanging himself with his bed sheet; he tore the sheet and braided it into a rope, tied it to the bathroom window and hung himself after getting on top of the trashcan.

The Public Prosecution visited the prison immediately, examined the scene and transferred the body to Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm. Ibrahim’s body was later referred to the Forensic Medicine Department in Nablus.

It should be noted that the deceased detainee has been detained by the Public Prosecution since 14 October 2020, on grounds of an old family dispute between him and his cousin, that included the use of firearms. Tulkarm’s Magistrate’s Court renewed his detention last Thursday for an additional 15 days.

PCHR emphasizes that the General Directorate of the Reform and Rehabilitation Centers, the Ministry of Interior, the Public Prosecution share the responsibility for the lives of detainees and bear full responsibility for such incidents regardless of their causes, as per the Law of Reform and Rehabilitation Centers No. 6/1998, as stipulated in Article 7, “…Inmates in any prison remain under the legal guardianship of the prison director…” Additionally, this responsibility stems from Palestine’s obligations under the first rule of the UN Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, (the Nelson Mandela Rules): “The safety and security of prisoners, staff, service providers and visitors shall be ensured at all times.”

Therefore, PCHR calls upon the Public Prosecution to open an investigation into Ibrahim’s death circumstances and identify those responsible for this incident whether by fault or wrongdoing.

PCHR also calls for the prison administration to take all necessary measures to prevent additional cases of suicide and to provide a dignified life for the detainees that is consistent with their right to respect of their dignity.