Ref: 85/2008

Date: 23 September 2008

Time: 11:30 GMT

General Intelligence Service raids Hebron Office of PLC Member Samira al-Halaiqa

On Monday 22 September, members of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS) raided the office of Samira al-Halaiqa (45), a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) for the Hamas Change and Reform Bloc, in Hebron. The GIS members confiscated the contents of her office.  

According to an initial investigation carried out by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), plus a statement from Samira al-Halaiqa, at approximately 3:30 pm on 22 September, members of the GIS raided the office of Samira al-Halaiqa, in the Zalum building in Ein Sara neighborhood north of Hebron city. The GIS members destroyed the lock of the main door of the office and entered without a permit, or an order, from the Attorney General or the speaker of the PLC. At the time of the raid, neither Samira al-Halaiqa, nor the office employees, were present. Before withdrawing, the force confiscated the contents of the office, including 2 laptops, 2 printers, telephone equipment, documents, files, stationary and photographs of Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails.

Samira Al-Halaiqa stated to PCHR that the GIS had raided her office after her departure with the other office employees, and that the raid was illegal.  

A security source claimed that “Publications and documents, which contain incitement against the Palestinian Authority, were confiscated. The confiscated documents included tapes and documents for al-Aqsa Television that broadcasts from the Gaza Strip, and whose activities are banned in the West Bank”. Samira al-Halaiqa denies these claims.

PCHR:

1.      Strongly condemns the raid launched by members of the GIS on the office of PLC member Samira al-Halaiqa, and calls upon the Palestinian Authority, represented by the office of the Attorney General, to conduct an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the raid, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.  

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