Ref: 109/2009
Date: 25 October 2009
Time: 13:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns Detention and Beating of Its Field Worker in Hebron and Bethlehem by IOF
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the detention and beating of Fahmi Hamdi Shaheen, 39, PCHR’s field worker in Hebron and Bethlehem. Mr. Shaheen was beaten by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Friday, 23 October 2009, when he was participating in a peaceful sit-in organized by a number of Palestinian civilians, human rights defenders and international and Israeli solidarity activists near “Kiryat Arba” settlement, which stands on Palestinian land in Hebron. PCHR condemns IOF’s use of excessive force against participants at the sit-in.
According to Shaheen and eyewitnesses, at noon on Friday, 23 October 2009, when Shaheen was participating in a peaceful sit-in organized by scores of Palestinian civilians from Tallat al-Ja’abra area, local activists from “Youths against Settlement” and French and Israeli solidarity activists, IOF and the so called Border Guard Police besieged the participants, who raised and cheered slogans against occupation and settlement. IOF used force to disperse the sit-in. They also arrested and violently beat Shaheen. IOF declared the area a closed military zone and tore down a tent set up on lands threatened to be confiscated by IOF for the purpose of settlement expansion.
At approximately 13:10, IOF took Shaheen to a detention and interrogation center in a police station near “Kiryat Arba” settlement. They also detained 3 Israeli solidarity activists. Shaheen was informed that he was under detention, and in the evening he was interrogated for charges of “incitement, obstruction of the work of security forces and presence in a closed military zone.”
Earlier, when IOF started to disperse the sit-in and chase the participants, they arrested ‘Abdul Karim Ibrahim al-Ja’bari, a land owner, and Badee’ Dib Dwaik, a local activist, and 9 international and Israeli solidarity activists. IOF released them all after one or two hours in detention.
At approximately 23:45, upon the intervention of Lea Tsemel, an Israeli lawyer, Shaheen was released on bail. He was warned not enter the Israeli-controlled areas known as H2 area in the south and southeast of Hebron.
Shaheen, who is an activist against the illegal settlements in Hebron, reported that the Israeli police violently beat him when they arrested him, although they knew that he works in the field of human rights. He sustained bruises to the chest and the right shoulder.
In light of the above:
1) PCHR strongly condemns the detention and beating of its field worker, and the use of excessive force by IOF to disperse peaceful gatherings against settlement activities in the West Bank.
2) PCHR calls upon the international community to intervene to force Israel to stop all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in East Jerusalem, and to dismantle Israeli settlements, which constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law.
3) PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the European Union, to take effective steps to protect human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
