PRESS RELEASE

Released @ 12.00 hours GMT 3rd July 1997

The PCHR welcomes the holding to account of the security personnel who tortured and beat to death Nasser Al Abed Radwan

A specially convened Military Court has today found guilty and sentenced three security personnel of Force 17 (security service of the President of the PNA) to death, and three to imprisonment. They were found guilty of killing Nasser Al Abed Radwan, who they illegally arrested on 23rd June 1997, and then severely beat bringing about his death. The Court had its first hearing of the case on Tuesday 1st July 1997 at which eight members of Force 17 stood accused. It passed judgement today, Thursday 3rd July at around 13.00 hours local time. The Court found six of the eight guilty of offences associated with the death of Radwan, and sentenced three to death by firing-squad.

The accused were designated by the court as Accused Numbers 1-8. The following were sentenced to death: Accused No.1, Lieutenant Colonel Fathi Ibrahim Freihat, Director of Operations in Force 17; Accused No.4, Wa’il Mohammed Ghanim, driver and accomplice to Accused No.1; and Accused No.5 Mahmoud Fathi Zayid, driver and accomplice. The following two defendants were sentenced to five years imprisonment: Accused No.3, Ahmed Salman Talalqa, an Officer in Force 17; Accused No. 8 Bassim Ahmed Saleh, a soldier in Force 17. Accused No.2, Muhammed Oda Shabat, Director of Beit Hanoun Prison (military prison designed to hold military personnel, where the victim was himself illegally held), was sentenced to six months imprisonment. The remaining two defendants, Accused No.6 and No.7, Khalil Najeeb Yasjee and Ramis Jamal Abdul Nabil were acquitted.

While the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights supports and is working towards the development of accountability, transparency and the bringing to justice of those who practice torture, the Centre would like to emphasise the following:

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  i. The Centre opposes the imposition of the death penalty and calls upon President Arafat to commute the death sentences to life imprisonment, as he is empowered so to do, as he must ratify rulings of the Military Court.

  ii. The Centre reiterates the necessity of internal regulations of procedures carried out by the security personnel based firmly on safeguards which guarantee their compliance with Palestinian law, including the prohibition against torture.

iii. The Centre calls upon the Minister of Justice, and the Attorney-General of the PNA to ensure that Palestinian security and police apparatus follow due process for arrest procedure and detention in accordance with Palestinian law.