Ref: 86/2009
Date: 08 July 2009
Time: 10:30 GMT
Individuals’ Passports Requisitioned to Prevent Them from Traveling
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is gravely concerned by the Palestinian security services in the Gaza Strip’s seizure of passports belonging to a number of individuals. It is believed that these measures are intended to prevent the individuals from traveling, a violation of the right to freedom of movement. PCHR calls upon the Government in Gaza to halt such practices which constitute a violation of the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards.
The latest complaint received by PCHR in this regard relates to travel restrictions imposed on Zeinab Ibrahim al-Wazeer, 57, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, and her husband, Mousa Ahmed al-Wazeer, 58, an advisor in the Ministry of Finance. The individuals’ passports and ID cards were seized, and they were prevented from traveling to Jordan to receive medical treatment.
PCHR investigations indicate that at approximately 10:30 on Tuesday, 7 July 2009, Palestinian security officers stationed near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip prevented Mrs. Zeinab al-Wazeer and her husband from traveling through the crossing. Officers from the Internal Security Service (ISS) took their passports and ID cards and informed them that they are on the list of people who are prevented from traveling. They also requested the couple to report to the ISS’s office in Gaza City. Mrs. Zeibal al-Wazeer was on her way to Jordan for medical treatment and her husband was accompanying her.
PCHR has followed up the complaint since Tuesday with concerned bodies in the Ministry of Interior, but the documents have not been retrieved due to procrastination by some officials and the unclear procedures followed by security services in this regard. In the past PCHR has successfully followed up a number of similar cases, and retrieved the passports of seven individuals.
In light of the above:
1) PCHR emphasizes that the right to freedom of movement is ensured under articles 20 and 28 of the Amended Basic Law and under international human rights standards.
2) PCHR calls upon the Government in Gaza to take necessary measures to ensure the non-recurrence of such illegal practices.
