Ref: 61/2010

The Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights (PCHR) condemns restrictions and measures taken by the two governments
in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank against activities organized by Hizb Ut Tahrir. PCHR condemns all the arrests, firings and
beatings that were documented against civilians this week. The Centre reiterates that the right to
peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and by relevant
international instruments. 

According to investigations
conducted by PCHR and statements given by a number of victims and eyewitnesses,
in the Gaza Strip, at approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 13 July 2010,
dozens of the members of the security services, including some members in
civilian clothes, deployed in the surroundings of al-Maqqousi yard near
al-Maqqousi apartment buildings, northern Gaza city, where Hizb Ut Tahrir was
planning to organize a ceremony to commemorate “the 89th Anniversary of
the Demolition of the Sate of Islam.” Members of the security services
used clubs to dispersed members and supporters of Hizb Ut Tahrir who were in
the area and prevented civilians from accessing the area. They opened fire into the air to disperse the
civilians. Riham Rabi’ Abu Marasa, 10,
was wounded by a bullet in the chest as a result as she was in her house in a
balcony overlooking the scene. Abu
Marasa was transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city and she was admitted
to the intensive care unit because her wounds were serious. In addition, a number of the supporters of Hizb
Ut Tahrir sustained bruises as they were beaten by the members of the security
forces. Fifteen other supporters were
arrested and transferred to unknown destination. 

Before this attack, members of the
security services arrived at the al-Maqousy yard at approximately 01:00 on 13
July 2010 and confiscated fittings, portraits and banners which were put in the
yard in preparation for the ceremony. They informed the organizers of the ceremony that they were not allowed
to organize the ceremony because they did not get a prior permit. According to information made available to
PCHR by the Media Office of Hizb Ut Tahrir, on 09 June 2010, Hizb Ut Tahrir
sent a notice to the Chief of the Police in the Gaza Strip informing him of
their intention to organize the said ceremony. Later, Hizb Ut Tahrir received a phone call from an officer from the
office of the Chief of the Police informing them of the approval. 

In the West Bank, on Saturday, 10
July 2010, the security services imposed tight restrictions and arrested a
number of civilians in Hebron, south of the West Bank, in order to prevent the
organization of a lecture entitled “the 89th Anniversary of the Demolition
of the Sate of Islam.”. Hizb Ut Tahrir
invited civilians to attend the lecture in the Omari Mosque in Ethna village,
west of Hebron. At approximately 13:30
on Saturday, 10 July 2010, large forces from the security services raided a

number of houses belonging to
activists from Hizb Ut Tahrir in Ethna village and arrested many of them and
the sons or brothers of those who were not in their homes. In the meanwhile, members of the security
services deployed intensively in the surroundings of the Omari Mosque. They erected checkpoints on roads leading to
the Mosque and closed shops in the area. 

The security members used clubs to
disperse the civilians who were on their way to the Mosque or to their nearby
houses. A number of those civilians
sustained bruises throughout their bodies. The security members also opened fire into the air while they were trying
to arrest civilians who were leaving the Mosque. According to data collected by PCHR, the
security services arrested 19 civilians who were transferred to police
stations. The majority of the arrested
civilians were released after they signed pledges requiring them not to
participate in political activities or demonstrations organized without prior
permission. 

PCHR strongly condemns restrictions
imposed by the two governments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on
activities organized by Hizb Ut Tahrir and:

1. Strongly condemns the ban on the organization of public and
private peaceful assemblies in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and the use of
force to disperse participants. PCHR
reiterates that civilians have a full and legal right to organize public
meetings, vigils and peaceful demonstrations in accordance with the law. 

2. Stresses that the governor and the police do not have the
right to authorize or prevent the organization of any public meeting, peaceful
demonstration or any other form of peaceful assemblies, noting that the law
requires organizers to send a “notice” to the governor or the police
and requires the police to “organize the traffic.”

3. Reaffirms that the right to peaceful assembly (public
meetings) is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant
international instruments.