Press Release

PCHR expresses its concern about use of draconian 1945 emergency regulations

12.00 hours GMT on 14 September 1997

Today, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights expressed its deep concern over the statements made by the Attorney-General on the possible use of the British Defence (Emergency) Regulations of 1945 by Palestinian Police forces to detain Palestinians. The Palestinian Centre has, in writing, sought clarity on the manner and means by which the regulations have been adopted and implemented.

Mr Fayez Abu Rahmah, Attorney-General to the Palestinian National Authority, informed journalists on “Face the Press”, a programme on Palestinian television on Wednesday 10 September, that he had not issued warrants for the arrest of Palestinians and that the emergency regulations were instead being used by Palestinian Police forces.

The Defence (Emergency) Regulations were promulgated by the British on 22 September 1945 in order to protect colonial interests in Palestine. These regulations gave power to the British governor-general to use draconian measures to suppress insurrection, and were largely employed against Palestinians who were seeking to secure their rights and independence from British and Zionist colonialists.

Today, 14 September 1997, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights wrote to the Palestinian Attorney-General, seeking an explanation as to how and when defence regulations had been activated by the Palestinian National Authority; whether all the arrests and other draconian measures, such as the closure of a newspaper, were being conducted in accordance with these regulations; and to whom, if these regulations were lawfully employed, legal representations should be made. This is especially important for the Palestinian Centre and other human rights organisations dealing with the cases of Palestinians detained under the defence regulations.

The Palestinian Centre warns of the consequences of activating the defence regulations of 1945. These regulations violate accepted international norms of human rights and would serve to wreck all efforts to establish civil society and to promote democracy in Palestinian society.