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Press Release
Palestinian prisoner deprived attorney visit by Israel authorities
Ref: 9/2002
Date: 28 January 2002
PCHR is deeply concerned about the situation of Riadh Sa’di ‘Ayyad, 29, from Gaza, who is currently detained in an Israeli jail and has been denied a visit from his lawyer for the fourth consecutive week. PCHR is worried that ‘Ayyad is subject to torture by his interrogators of the Israeli General Security Service (GSS).
An undercover Israeli unit kidnapped ‘Ayyad while he was on his way to his work in the east of Gaza City on 1 January. He was then taken to “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, and from there transferred to Asqalan (Ashkelon) Prison. Since then, the Israeli lawyer whom PCHR has retained to represent ‘Ayyad has been denied contact despite three attempts.
The lawyer has submitted a complaint against the decision to prevent attorney visits for ‘Ayyad to the Israeli Supreme Court, which rejected the complaint and maintained the order. Incommunicado detention is often a strong indication that a detaineed is being tortured, despite the fact that a 1999 Israeli Supreme Court decision found many of the torture methods used by the GSS illegal.
PCHR is deeply concerned about the court decision to prevent the lawyer from visiting ‘Ayyad, since cases of such prevention have notably increased since the beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada.
PCHR calls upon the international community and organizations to enact sanctions on Israel until it agrees to apply the Fourth Geneva Convention in the OPT de jure and de facto, including its provisions which prohibit torture.
