Ref: 99/2008

Date: 09 November 2008

Time: 12:30 GMT

PCHR deplores Raiding the House of PLC Member Ashraf Juma’a and Arresting More than 30 Members of Fatah Movement By Members of the Internal Security Force in Rafah

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the 7 November 2008 raid on the house of Ashraf Juma’a, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), in Rafah city by a force from the Internal Security, and arresting more than 30 members of Fatah movement. The detainees were taken to the police station in Rafah. PCHR notes that these arrests constitute a resumption of political arrests that the Gaza government promised to stop.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, and testimony by PLC member Ashraf Juma’a, at about 13:30 on Thursday, 7 November, 2008, members of the Internal Security raided the house of PLC Member Ashraf Juma’a, in al-Juneina neighborhood in Rafah. The force arrested more than 30 members of Fatah movement who were invited to have lunch in honor of other members of Fatah movement who were released by the government in Gaza on 30 October, 2008. The arrested persons were taken to the police station in Rafah governorates’ building. They were questioned about the lunch at Juma’a’s house and about the activities of Fatah members. They were released later at about 8:00 pm on the same day with the exception of Salah al-‘Oweisi and Khaled Mousa, both Fatah district leaders. Before being released, Fatah members were given summons to meet with the internal security officers.

PCHR:

1.    Reiterates the immunity that PLC members enjoy under the Palestinian Basic Law that prohibits any attacks on PLC members throughout their term in office.

2.    Reminds that political imprisonment is a violation of human rights under relevant international laws and that it is prohibited under the Palestinian Basic Law. PCHR also reminds of the decision of the Palestinian Supreme Court issued on 20 February 1999, that provided for the illegality of political imprisonment. PCHR calls upon all executive institutions to respect the decision of the High Court and to refrain from the practice of illegal political arrests.

3.    Calls upon the government in Gaza to refrain from practicing political imprisonment and from reopening this file. The center also calls upon the government in Ramallah to release dozens of arrested activists and members of Hamas movement.