Ref: 79/2009
Date: 15 June 2009
Time: 12:30 GMT
Detainee Dies in the GIS Prison in Hebron
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls for an investigation into the death of Haitham ‘Amru, 33, from Upper Beit al-Roush village southwest of Hebron. ‘Amru died while in the custody of the General Intelligence Service (GIS); it is suspected that he was subject to torture, which may have caused his death.
PCHR’s investigations indicate that at approximately 20:00 on Thursday, 11 June 2009, a joint force of approximately 50 members of the Palestinian security forces, stormed a house belonging to the family of Haitham ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Amru, 33, in Upper Beit al-Roush village, southwest of Hebron. ‘Amru was arrested, and taken to a detention facility belonging to the GIS. At noon on Sunday, 14 June 2009, ‘Amru’s father went to the detention centre and requested that he be allowed to visit his son. This request was denied, as was a request to meet the GIS Chief. At midnight, ‘Amru was transferred to Hebron Hospital in a critical condition. At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 15 June 2009, he was pronounced dead. At approximately 07:00, the family was informed of his death through notable members of his clan.
The family informed PCHR that security forces claimed that their son attempted to escape, and in doing so jumped down from a second floor. During the fall, it was claimed that ‘Amru fell onto his knees and abdomen, and accordingly suffered a hemorrhage in the lungs that led to his death. Eyewitnesses told the family that they had seen ‘Amru immediately after his arrival at the hospital, and had noticed signs of torture on his face. The family also reported that their son’s body was transferred to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Abu Dis for autopsy. The family was not informed of the autopsy, which was conducted in private.
A PCHR field worker, who saw the corpse before burial, reported that he noticed blue signs on the back, the buttocks, the legs, the feet and the left hand; large blue spots on the thighs; and a large red spot on the left buttock.
Haitham ‘Amru was a board member of the Islamic Charity Corporation, and worked as a nurse in two medical centers of the Ministry of Health in Upper Beit al-Roush village and the neighboring Deir al-‘Asal village. He was married and had 3 children.
In light of the above:
1) PCHR calls upon the government in Ramallah to investigate this crime, to publish the results of the investigation, and to prosecute the perpetrators.
2) PCHR reminds that torture is prohibited under Palestinian law and by a jus cogens norm of international law. Torture also constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law, especially the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 1984. PCHR asserts that alleged instances of torture must always be investigated and prosecuted, and the perpetrators brought to justice.
3) PCHR affirms that all forms of detention under the Palestinian Law are the mandate of judicial warranty bodies, represented by the civil police, working under instruction and supervision of the Attorney-General.
4) PCHR is deeply concerned over the recurrence of such crimes, especially in light of the Palestinian National Authority’s failure to declare the results of any investigations or legal actions taken against the perpetrators. This situation contributes to impunity, and encourages the reoccurrence of such crimes.
