Ref: 65/2008

Date: 24 July 2008

Time: 10:30 GMT

PCHR Condemns the Detention of PLC Member Mona Mansour

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the detention of Ms. Mona Mansour (46) a Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from the pro-Hamas Change and Reform Party, who has been detained by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). The Centre views this detention as a continuation of IOF policy targeting elected PLC members, which has been occurring since January 2006. In addition, the Centre views this detention as a form of reprisal against Palestinian civilians and a form of collective punishment that is prohibited by Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949).

The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 2:15 on Monday, 21 July, IOF moved into the city of Nablus and the adjacent Balata refugee camp, firing sound bombs and firing heavily. IOF raided the house of PLC member Mona Mansour in Balata camp. They ransacked the house and confiscated a computer and Ms Mansour’s files before detaining her. In addition, IOF raided other houses and detained 26 Palestinians, confiscating computers and cellular phones found in the targeted houses.

PCHR notes that these IOF raids are part of a continuous IOF operation which has been targeting tens of elected PLC members from the pro- Hamas Change and Reform Party, including ministers, and members of local councils, since the end of June 2006. IOF continues to detain approximately 40 PLC members, most of them Change and Reform Party members. The Party is headed by PLC Speaker Dr. Aziz Dweik, PLC Secretary-General Dr. Mahmoud El-Ramahi, and Cabinet Ministers from the 10^th Government (formed by Hamas).

PCHR condemns the detention of Mona Mansour: and  

• Stresses that this detention is part of a campaign to undermine the results of the fair and democratic PLC elections conducted on 25 January 2006.
• Affirms that the detention of Mona Mansour is a form of reprisal action and collective punishment against the civilian population in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
• Calls for the immediate release of PLC member Mona Mansour and all PLC members and ministers in Israeli prisons, including PLC Speaker Dr. Aziz Dweik and PLC Secretary-General Dr. Mahmoud El-Ramahi.