April 10, 1999
Two brothers released after torture by Israeli interrogators
Two brothers released after torture by Israeli interrogators

 

PRESS RELEASE

Two brothers released after torture by Israeli interrogators

 

Ref.: 41/99

Date: 10th April, 1999

On Thursday, April 8, 1999, Israeli authorities released the two brothers, Bassam and Hasan Al-Arabid. After 60 days of arrest no charges had been filed against them. The two brothers were arrested at Erez checkpoint on February 11 while they were leaving the Gaza Strip to work in Israel. Their arrests were carried out despite the fact that they had valid permits issued by Israel. The arrests were related to the case of their brother, Saad Al-Arabid, who is wanted by Israeli security forces for his alleged affiliation to Izz Eddin Al-Qassam, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement.

Andre Rosenthal, the Israeli lawyer requested by PCHR to follow their case, was denied access to visit them until after 35 days of arrest had elapsed. The two brothers were subjected to torture during interrogation, including shabeh (painful shackling in awkward positions combined with sleep deprivation and hooding). They were also subjected to loud music and isolated in individual cells. The aim of these torture methods was to extract information about their brother, but they were not interrogated about charges pertaining specifically to themselves.

PCHR has been involved in the case of the Al-Arabid brothers as well as many other similar cases through the Legal Aid Unit. PCHR and Gaza lawyers in general are denied access to visit prisoners in Israel. Many Palestinian prisoners are effectively denied their right to receive a proper defense as they cannot afford the financial costs of an Israeli lawyer. PCHR is the only organization in the Gaza Strip which offers legal aid to Palestinian prisoners in Israel (through working in conjunction with Israeli human rights lawyers).

For More Information Contact:

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Tel/Fax: (+) 9727 2824776/2823725