PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 59/2003

Date: 7 May 2003

PCHR expresses concern for the continued detention of Dr. Fadel Abu Hain and two of his relatives PCHR is deeply concerned about the continued detention of three members of the Abu Hain family, who were arrested by Israeli occupying forces during an incursion into al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City last week.  Although nearly a week has passed since they were arrested, the three detainees have not been interrogated or accused of any charge.

During the incursion into al-Shojaeya neighborhood, Israeli occupying forces arrested and detained 19 members of the Abu Hain family, holding them for a number of hours at the “Karni” crossing, east of Gaza City.  16 of the detainees were released, while 3 remain in custody:

1) Dr. Fadel Abu Hain, 45, a professor of psychology at al-Aqsa University and director of the Social Training and Crisis Management Center;

2) Yasser Abu Hain, 28, a journalist and director of al-Naba’ Centre for Media and Documentation; and

3) Ussama Abu Hain, 19, a science student at the Islamic University. 

According to information available to PCHR, they are being held by Israeli occupying forces in a detention center in “Erez”, in the northern Gaza Strip. 

PCHR has taken an active role in pursuing the case and has sent a letter to Physicians for Human Rights to ascertain the detainees’ conditions.  PCHR also commissioned lawyer Tameem Younis to follow the case and he has so far visited the detainees on two occasions – 4 and 5 May 2003.  According to Younis, the detainees have not been interrogated or accused of any charge, which indicates that there is no ground for their detention. PCHR is concerned about the deterioration of their health as the conditions in which they are being held do not meet the minimum acceptable standards.  PCHR is particularly concerned about the continued detention of Dr. Fadel Abu Hain, who suffers from asthma and serious spinal problems.   

PCHR will continue to pursue the cases of Dr Abu Hain, Yasser Abu Hain and Ussama Abu Hain and expresses its concerns that they may be subject to torture and ill-treatment. PCHR calls upon relevant international organizations to immediately intervene to protect these detainees and ensure their release, as well as the release of other Palestinian civilians who have been detained in the context of wide scale, arbitrary arrest campaigns waged by Israeli occupying forces.   

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 7 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. Web: http://www.pchrgaza.org