Ref: 88/2007
Date: 13 August 2007
Time: 13:45 GMT
PCHR Calls for an Investigation into the Beit Hanoun Events
PCHR calls for an investigation into the events that took place in Beit Hanoun last Friday, and the subsequent beating and arrests of civilians by the Executive Force during the breakup of 2 wedding celebrations of Fatah members. The Centre calls for investigating the incidents in which several Fatah activists were interrogated and severe beating by the Executive Force in Beit Hanoun. One of the detainees suffered a broken arm.
The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 22:30 on Friday, 10 August 2007, an Executive Force patrol consisting of 6 jeeps and 30 members raided the wedding celebration of Fatah activist Attaf Rafiq Na’im. The celebration took place in Khalil Wazir Street in Beit Hanoun. The Executive Force patrol fired in the air, broke chairs by driving their vehicles over them, and beat civilians with batons and sticks, resulting in the injury of a few people. In addition, they beat the cameraman in the celebration and destroyed his camera and confiscated the sound equipment. After that, the Executive Force imposed a curfew on the area and detained a large number of people, most of them Fatah activists.
A video recording of the events aired by Ramattan News Agency showed the Executive Force raid, beatings, and destruction of chairs. After the airing of the photage, Ramattan cameraman Ra’ed Ahmad El-Kafarna (22) was detained by the Executive Force. The cameraman informed PCHR’s fieldworker that the Executive Force sent him a summons to their headquarters. He added that they did not wait for him, but headed to his house and detained him. The Force questioned him about the photage and accused him of defaming them. However, he added that he was not beaten. He was released 2 hours later after the intervention of his employers and other parties.
At approximately the same time, the Executive Force raided another wedding celebration of a Fatah member, Mohammad Jamil El-Bo (El-Kafarna), in Dumra Street in Beit Hanoun. The Force fired in the air, destroyed chairs, and beat participants.
Approximately 30 people were injured in both incidents, including women and children. One of the injured suffered shrapnel injuries from a gunshot. In addition, the Executive Force detained approximately 45 people, most of them Fatah activists that included elderly persons and an 11-year old child. Most of the detainees were released on the same night or next morning. Four remained under detention till the evening of 12 August 2007, and were released then. Many of the detainees suffered beatings during their detention or when they were arrested, including 11-year old Faris Suliman Kharawat.
It is noted that at approximately 17:00 on the same day, the Executive Force summoned 4 Fatah activists: Faris Theyab Na’im (42), Fatah Secretary General in Beit Hanoun; Issan Shehda El-Moghrabi (36); Shehda Abd El-Jawad Abu Z’reiq (59), a school principal; and Maher Mohammad Odwan (47), a Fatah Regional Council Member. Faris Na’im was beaten by the Executive Force. He informed PCHR’s fieldworker that 4 masked persons “assaulted me inside my detention room, and threw me to the ground. They put the prayer mat on my head and beat me all over the body. I was screaming. Then they left me. Another group of 5 masked persons entered and started to beat me and threw me on the ground. I was screaming from the pain and the breaking of my right arm. Then they brought 2 other prisoners in the room and beat them.” Na’im added that he continued to suffer from the pain of his broken arm till 2:30 on Saturday when the commander of the Force was convinced that his arm was broken. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The families of the 4 detainees, including women and children, went out in a demonstration and demanded the release of their kin. The demonstration escalated, and the Executive Force beat the demonstrators.
PCHR strongly condemns these attacks, and:
– Calls for an immediate investigation into these attacks, prosecuting the perpetrators, and taking steps to prevent their recurrence.
– Reminds that torture is outlawed by Palestinian Law, and is a serious human rights violations under international treaties, especially the UN Convention against Torture and other forms of Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment (1984).
– Affirms that the right of freedom of expression is protected by the Basic Law and international human rights instruments.
– Affirms that all forms of detention under the Palestinian Law are the mandate of law-enforcement agencies represented by the civilian police, working under instruction and supervision of the Attorney-General.
