Ref: 58/2008
Date: 29 June 2008
Time: 10:30 GMT
PCHR Calls for Investigation into the Death of an Old Man in Suspicious Circumstances in a Police Station in Deir al-Balah
PCHR calls for conducting a serious investigation into the death of Taleb Mohammed Abu Sitta, 72, in Deir al-Balah police station in the central Gaza Strip two days ago, and declaring the results. PCHR is concerned that Abu Sitta might have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment during his detention, which did not exceed two days.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, and testimonies of Abu Sitta’s family, at approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 26 June 2008, police officers went to Taleb Mohammed Abu Sitta’s house in al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip, accompanied by his son, 26-year-old Mustafa, who had been arrested on the previous day. They searched the house for drugs. They then arrested Abu Sitta and took him to Deir al-Balah police station. At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 27 June 2008, Abu Sitta’s body was transported in an ambulance from the police station to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, and from there to the forensic department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The victim’s son, Mustafa, whom the police released after his father had dies, told PCHR that he was violently beaten and tortured during interrogation in Deir al-Balah police station, and that he was detained together with his father. He added that police officers tied his father’s hands and feet to a bed and beat him. They also violently beat him and his father during several rounds of interrogation, which continued until Friday morning, Mustafa added. At approximately 06:00, police officers awoke him and ordered him to help his father who was lying on the ground near the door of the room. They then ordered him to fill a bottle of water and splash it on the face of his father, who was fatigued, but the father died. A PCHR field worker reported that he could see clear signs of beating on Mustafa’s feet.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, Eihab al-Ghussain, stated on Sunday morning, 29 June 2008, that the police detained Taleb Abu Sitta for a drug dealing case, and according to initial information he was suffering from a heart disease. He added that the Ministry of Interior initiated an investigation to find out the reasons of his death, and suspended and detained officers in charge at the aforementioned police station.
In light of the above:
1) PCHR calls upon the Attorney-General, in his capacity as the party concerned with such cases according to the Penal Measures Law of 2001, to investigate the death of Taleb Abu Sitta and declare the results of investigation.
2) PCHR reminds that according to the Palestinian law, any detainee must be medically checked before and after being held at any detention facility.
3) PCHR stresses that torture is prohibited under the Palestinian law, and it constitutes a serious violation of international human rights standards and instruments, especially the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 1984, and that crimes of torture remains punishable even if long times pass.
4) PCHR is concerned over the recurrence of inhuman and degrading treatment by security officers against detainees.
