Ref: 55/2009

Date: 22 April 2009

Time: 12: 00 GMT

PCHR Condemns Political Detention of Fatah Activists in Gaza

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its grave concern at the Gaza Strip’s Internal Security Service’s (ISS) harassment and detainment of a number of Fatah activists. PCHR demands that the government in Gaza to put an end to such actions.

PCHR’s investigations – which included interviews with released individuals – indicate that the ISS delivered summons to a number of Fatah activists and Regional Secretaries in Khan Younis and Rafah. When they presented themselves before the authorities, the individuals were detained for several hours. They were questioned about the activities of the Fatah movement, security services’ actions in the West Bank, and the attempted attack on Sheikh Hamed al-Bitawi )PLC member for the Reform and Change Bloc of Hamas movement) in Nablus on 19 April 2009.

One of the Fatah activists who was detained and then released told PCHR the following:

 “At approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 21 April 2009, I was delivered a summons from the Internal Security Service in Rafah. I responded and headed to the place specified in the summons. There were three other activists from the Fatah movement in that place. Members from the Internal Security Service blindfolded us and transferred us by a car to an unknown destination, where we were separately questioned. The questioner questioned me about the activities of Fatah movement, its internal disputes and about the incident of firing at Sheikh Hamed al-Bitawi in Nablus. He asked me to deliver a message to Fatah leaders in Ramallah that Fatah activists in the Gaza Strip will be held accountable”.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of the harassment and detention of Fatah activists in the Gaza Strip, and demands that the government in Gaza put an end to the perpetration of such actions by the Internal Security Service.