Press Release

 

The High Court of Justice Orders the Preventative Security Forces to Immediately Release Two Detainees

 

Ref: 113/99

Date: 8^th November 1999

On the 8^th November 1999, the High Court of Justice issued a decision to release the detainees Wa’el El Talab Naasar, 26 years old, who has been in prison since 12 March 1996, and Khalil Ahmad Abu Uwda’, 39 years old, who has been in prison since 14 March 1996.The two detainees have been illegally imprisoned by the Preventative Security Forces, without due legal process.

 

After being appointed to represent the detainees Wa’el El Talab Naasar and Khalil Ahmad Abu Uwda’, the lawyers of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights submitted applications to the High Court of Justice for their 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 applications.

 

Sometime later, the Attorney General submitted the responses to the applications, in which it was claimed that the detention of Wa’el El Talab Naasar and Khalil Ahmad Abu Uwda’was legal since their detentions were extended by the State Security Court. PCHR’s lawyer refuted the Attorney General’s claims since it is contrary to due legal process to hold a detainee for a period of more than four years without any charges.

 

The High Court of Justice issued decisions to immediately release the two detainees after the Attorney General testified before the Court to the absence of any charges against them, 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 were no applications to the Attorney General’s office to extend their imprisonment beyond 30 days.

 

PCHR expresses its satisfaction with the Court’s decisions and hopes the decisions will be respected and executed through the immediate release of the detainees Wa’el El Talab Naasar and Khalil Ahmad Abu Uwda’. Furthermore, PCHR demands compensation for them for their illegal imprisonment. 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 Shafieq 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. Mohamed Musa Jadallah – the Court decision to release him was issued 6 July 1999
5. Abed El Raheem Jahjooh_ the Court decision to release him was issued 3 October 1999.
6. Adel Aql Abed El Rhmaan- the court decision to release him was issued 6 October 1999.
7. Fawzi Mohamed Abu El Qarah- the court decision to release was issued 18 October 1999.
8. Khalid Ibrahim Hassan Khaleel – the court decision to release was issued 19 October 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.