Security Chaos

Attacks on Public Officials and Institutions

Field Update

11 July 2007

Secretary-General of the Federation of Palestinian Labor Unions Kidnapped by Gunmen in Nablus

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 10 July 2007, a group of four gunmen kidnapped Shaher Sa’ed, the Secretary-General of the Federation of Palestinian Labor Unions and President of the Institutions Committee in Nablus. Sa’ed was kidnapped from Asfoura Restaurant in Rafedya Quarter in Nablus. He was released after approximately 90 minutes. The kidnappers demanded his resignation from his posts for alleged cooperation with Hamas.

Shaher Sa’ed gave the following testimony to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“At approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 10 July 2007, I accompanied a group on Italian union activists, on a visit to witness the conditions of Palestinian workers, to eat lunch at Asfoura Restaurant in Rafedya Quarter in the west of Nablus. As we were sitting in the restaurant, I was surprised by four masked gunmen demanding at gunpoint that I leave the guests and accompany them. They took me in their car to an area near Melehes Shoe Factory in Tunisia Street in Rafedya. They told me that they are a militia that isn’t affiliated with any party. They demanded that I resign from the Union and Institutions Committee in the city. They accused me of collaborating with Hamas, and of working with Hamas. I was abducted for about 90 minutes with the purpose of delivering this message.”

PCHR is concerned over this attack, which is a continuation of the security chaos plaguing the OPT. The Centre calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate this crime and prosecute the perpetrators.