Press Release

 

The High Court of Justice Orders the Preventative Security Forces to Immediately Release the Detainee Abdel el Rahiem Jahjooh

Date: 4 October 1999

Ref: 97/99

Yesterday, 3 October 1999, the High Court of Justice issued a decision to release the detainee Abdel el Rahiem Jahjooh, 28 years old, who has been illegally imprisoned since 13 February 1999 by the Preventative Security Forces, without due legal process.

On 4 July 1999, after being appointed to represent Jahjooh, the lawyers of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights submitted an application to the High Court of Justice for his release. At that time the High Court of Justice granted the Attorney General, as the representative of the Palestinian Security Forces, a respite of eight days to answer the application.

On 28 September 1999, the Attorney General submitted the response to the application, in which it was claimed that the detention of Jahjooh was legal since his detention was extend by the State Security Court. PCHR’s lawyer refuted the Attorney General’s claim since it is contrary to due legal process to hold a detainee for a period of more than eight months without any charges.

The High Court of Justice issued a decision to immediately release the detainee after the Attorney General testified before the Court to the absence of any charge against Jahjooh, and after it was proven that the Attorney General had no information in this regard except the imprisonment orders. Moreover, the Attorney General testified that there was no application to the Attorney General’s office to extend the imprisonment beyond 30 days.

PCHR expresses its satisfaction with the Court’s decision and hopes the decision will be respected and executed through the immediate release of the detainee Jajooh. Furthermore, PCHR demands compensation for Jahjooh for his imprisonment with out any logical or legal reason. At the same time, PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of all the High Court of Justice’s decisions issued for the release of detainees still being held in Palestinian State Security Forces’ prisons, amongst these detainees are:

1. Wa’el Ali Faraj – the Court decision to release him was issued 20 February 1999
2. Ameen Diab – the Court decision to release him was issued 10 June 1999
3. Abed El Nasser Karsoo’a – the Court decision to release him was issued 1 July 1999
4. Mohammed Jadallah – the Court decision to release him was issued 6 July 1999

Moreover PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to immediately decide on hundreds of similar cases of Palestinian detainees who are held in its prisons contrary Palestinian law. PCHR affirms the fairness of these detainees’ request to be immediately released or to be brought before a just civil court according to the law.

For More Information Contact:

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Tel/Fax: (+) 9727 2824776/2823725

E-mail: [email protected] ,