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Press Release

PCHR Calls for Investigation into Death of Palestinian Prisoner Under Suspicious Circumstances

Ref: 59/2001

Date: 22 October 2001

 This morning, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights asked the Attorney General to initiate an investigation into the death of a prisoner in the custody of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service and to carry out an autopsy to determine the causes and circumstances of his death.  PCHR had contested the arrest, as it did not follow legal procedures, including respecting the right to family visitations.  PCHR considers that the death of the prisoner three days after his arrest raises suspicions and requires further investigation.

 On Sunday afternoon, October 21, the body of ‘Alla’ El-Din Hassan Mohammed Wahba, 41, from Khan Yunis, was transferred via ambulance to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  A Palestinian security source stated that “Wahba was detained on a security basis, and he was found dead at 13:30 on Sunday after having committed suicide.”  The source added that “there is clear evidence that he committed suicide after he had been confronted with the confessions of his co-conspirators in a security case.”

 In an affidavit to PCHR, Wahba’s brother, Dr. Gassan Hassan Wahba, 33, said that he was able to see his brother’s body yesterday afternoon and that he noticed “bruises and swelling in the hands, signs of a blow to the forehead, swelling in the neck apparently resulting from another blow, and traces of wire or rope around the neck …” PCHR is deeply concerned that Wahba might have been tortured during interrogation, thus leading to his death.  This case is the fourth of its kind in 2000.

 According to PCHR’s investigation and Dr. Wahba’s affidavit, two men in civilian clothes came to the family’s house on Thursday, October 18, asking for ‘Alla’ El-Din Wahba.  His wife told them that he was at the mosque for the evening prayer.  At approximately 18:45, Wahba returned home to take his identity card.  He told his wife that two security men were waiting for him outside the house because of a loan he had obtained from a bank ten days before, and that he would be brought back soon.  He never returned.  On the following morning, his family started searching for him.  At approximately 15:30 on the same day, his brother Ghassan and Fawzi Hellow, 50, from Khan Yunis, went to the headquarters of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service in the city.  After checking a list of detainees, the guard at the gate denied that ‘Alla’ El-Din was in GIS custody.  In his affidavit to PCHR, Ghassan said that after a long search they discovered that his brother was after all being held by the GIS.  He went along with his uncle to the headquarters of the GIS, where they were certain that his brother was detained.  Members of the GIS informed them that ‘Alla’ El-Din could be released upon the conclusion of the investigation.  On Saturday morning, Ghassan received the same reply from members of the GIS who also informed him that there were still some simple measures to be taken and that his brother would soon be released.

 On Sunday morning, October 21, 2001, the prisoner’s uncle received the same reply a third time from members of the GIS.  None of the prisoner’s family was able to visit him while in custody.  At approximately 14:30 on Sunday, the family received a phone call from the GIS, in which they were informed that their son was in Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  Later, they discovered that he was dead.  Wahba was married and father of four children.  He worked in an UNRWA primary school in Khan Yunis.

 PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney General, to initiate an investigation into the death of this prisoner and to carry out an autopsy to determine the causes and circumstances of his death, and then to publish the results.  PCHR calls also upon the PNA to stop all arrests carried out by unauthorized parties, and to ensure that all arrests follow legal procedures