Ref: 59/2011

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the
government in Gaza to seriously investigate the death of Ibrahim Akram
al-Aa’raj, 45 who died in the Abu Oraiban police station in al-Nussairat
refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, 25 June 2011. PCHR also
calls for the publication of the results of such investigation. PCHR is concerned that al-Aa’raj might have
been subjected to torture and cruel treatment during his detention which did
not exceed two days. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
14:00 on Saturday, 25 June 2011, the body of Ibrahim al-Aa’raj, from al-Zaytoun
neighborhood in Gaza City, was brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, from
al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. The body was immediately taken to the Forensic Medicine Department to
determine the cause of death. According to
observations of al-Aa’raj’s body by PCHR’s staff, there was a fracture on the
top of his head and bruises on his forehead, face, back and limbs, which were
clearly visible. Al-Aa’raj’s body had
been transported by an ambulance to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital at approximately
10:00 on Saturday. 

Al-Aa’raj’s brother, Mohammed, stated to PCHR that his brother, a
horse trader, was arrested on Thursday, 23 June 2011, by the anti-drug police
when he was in the animal market in al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip. He was detained in Abu Oraiban
police station in al-Nussairat refugee camp. He added that the victim’s son, Mohammed, attempted to visit his father,
but the police denied him permission to visit. His brother, Waleed, also attempted to visit him, but the police
detained him until Akram’s death. 

It is worth noting that Hassan Mohammed al-Hmaidi, from Wadi
al-Salqa village east of Deir al-Balah, died on 11 June 2011 after his health
deteriorated while in the custody of the anti-drug police. In addition, Abdullah Braik Abu Mughassib,
from the same village, was wounded by a bullet to the foot while in custody of
the same police unit on 03 June 2011. PCHR had already called for investigating these crimes and publication
of the result, but this has not happened. 

In light of the above:

1. PCHR
calls upon the government in Gaza to seriously investigate the death of Ibrahim
al-Aa’raj and publish the results of the investigation.

2. PCHR
calls upon the Attorney General to investigate the police’s compliance to the
rule of presenting the detained person within 24 hours to decide if there are
grounds for his continued detention. 

3. PCHR
reminds that torture is prohibited under the Palestinian law, and constitutes a
violation of international human rights instruments, particularly the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment of 1984.  PCHR emphasizes that torture crimes are not subject
to prescription limitation, and remains punishable all the time. 

4. PCHR
is concerned over the recurrence of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by
security officers against detainees.