February 8, 2016
PCHR Files 2 Separate Complaints Concerning al-Qeeq to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and to Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
PCHR Files 2 Separate Complaints Concerning al-Qeeq to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and to Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Ref: 06/2016

 

On 08 February 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) filed 2 separate complaints to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning the crime of torture, degrading treatment and arbitrary detention (administrative detention) committed by Israeli forces against journalist Mohammed Osama al-Qeeq (33), from Doura village in Hebron.

On 21 November 2015, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Osama al-Qeeq (33), reporter of al-Majd Saudi Channel, from his house. He experienced tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. Therefore, al-Qeeq started a hunger strike.

Al-Qeeq has been on an open hunger strike since 25 November 2015 in protest against placing him under 6-month administrative detention. His health status since deteriorated, so al-Qeeq was taken to al-Afoulah Hospital in Israel and is still there. Human rights sources reported that he suffers from permanent headache and pains in the stomach and joints, vomits blood and lost 13 kilograms.

On 12 January 2016, Israeli forces force-fed al-Qeeq after he was handcuffed and then forcibly administrated intravenous fluids in a grave violation of al-Qeeq’s crippled will, which amounts to an international crime that requires holding those who ordered and applied it to account.

What the Israeli forces is doing against journalist al-Qeeq, who is a civilian, constitutes a clear violation of the international humanitarian and human rights laws, as this crime amounts to a crime against humanity according to paragraph 1(e-f) of article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Moreover, this crime is a flagrant violation of al-Qeeq’s right to a fair trial, including his right to receive a proper defense and be informed of any charges against him, which is guaranteed in article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This crime also violates the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

PCHR aims via these complaints at drawing the international community’s attention to the suffering experienced by over 7,000 Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, including 700 under the administrative detention.