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PRESS RELEASE

PCHR welcomes the release of

Mr. Younis El-Jaru and Dr. Rabah Mahanna

Ref: 69/2001

Date: 16 November, 2001

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) welcomes the release of Younis El-Jaru and Rabah Mahanna from detention by the Palestinian police yesterday evening in accordance with the ruling of the High Court decision issued on 7 November 2001.  However, PCHR wishes to assert the following;

1.      The release of el-Jaru and Mahanna was ordered by the High Court of Justice on 7 November following a ruling that their detention was illegal.  However, the Palestinian police refused to implement the order immediately and their release was illegally delayed for 8 days.

2.      PCHR will continue in its active role in defending political prisoners and will continue to work to end political detention by the Palestinian National Authority and its security services.  PCHR wishes to recall the continued detention of many political prisoners by the Palestinian National Authority.

3.      PCHR believes that the independence of a civil judiciary, adherence to the rule of law and the promotion of democracy are the foundations for an independent, stable and free society in Palestine and asserts that the existence of an independent judiciary, the rule of law and true democracy are the responsibility of the Palestinian National Authority.

“End”