From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (Harel Barzilai)
Subject: ILL-TREATMENT IN ISRAEL 
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 06:55:53 GMT

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Topic 296       ILL-TREATMENT IN ISRAEL 
ggundrey        IGC Networks Headlines Digest    5:51 pm  Sep 23, 1992 
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From: George Gundrey <ggundrey@igc.org>
Subject: ILL-TREATMENT IN ISRAEL 
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/* Written  2:19 pm  Sep 23, 1992 by gn:geonet in cdp:omct.sostortur */ 
/* ---------- "ILL-TREATMENT IN ISRAEL" ---------- */ 
Subject: ILL-TREATMENT IN ISRAEL 
From: GEO2:OMCT 
Date: 23-09-92, 13:48:42 
To: OMCT-SOSTORTURE 
Cc: OMCT-ML1 OMCT-ML2 

Case ISR/PAL 230992 

At the request of Antenna International, member of our network, we 
call upon you to intervene URGENTLY on behalf of the following 
situation in Israel/Occupied Territories. 

Brief description of the situation: 

According to information received from the Mandela Institute, there 
are fears for the safety of Mr. Ahmad Sleeman Musa QATTAMSH, aged 42, 
from Al-Bireh who was arrested from his home on 1 September 1992. 
Following his arrest, Mr. QATTAMSH was taken to Ramallah 
Investigation Section and appeared at Ramallah Court on 10 September 
1992 where he was refused bail and the Prosecutor even asked that the 
detainee not be in the court.  An argument ensued after which it was 
agreed that the detainee be brought to court without his lawyer or 
his family. 
Following the hearing his lawyer was able to obtain a copy of the 
court transcript in which Mr. QATTAMSH reportedly told the Judge of 
the severe ill-treatment to which he had been subjected.  He reported 
that he had not been permitted to sleep more than eight hours from 
the time of his arrest to the time of his court appearance and that 
these eight hours were spread out over the nine nights; he was 
subjected to concentrated psychological pressure; and to the shabah, 
(whereby a person is tied up with a sack or blindfold placed over his 
head).  As a result of this treatment he has experienced breathing 
difficulties and on two occasions he even fainted.  According to the 
information, both a policeman and an interrogator witnessed this but 
did not provide him with the attention required. 
On 17 September he was brought for another hearing during which his 
family was banned from the Court Room.  During the hearing his 
incommunicado detention was extended for a further 30 days. 
According to the information, a lawyer present during the hearing has 
reported that Mr. QATTAMSH is suffering from sight problems. 
In addition to this case the Mandela Institute has also mentioned 
that of Mr. Ahmad Sadat Abdel RASSUL, also from Al-Bireh who is 
facing similar ill-treatment, however the information gives no 
further details of his case. 
Action requested: 
Please write to the authorities in the occupied territories to demand 
that they put an end to the torture and ill-treatment of Ahmad 
Sleeman Musa QATTAMSH and Ahmad Sadat Abdel RASSUL and that they 
guarantee their physical and psychological integrity at all times. 
Insist that Ahmad Sleeman Musa QATTAMSH's family be allowed to visit 
him and that both men be released immediately if no charges can be 
brought against them.  In the event that charges can be brought, 
demand that they be brought before a fair and impartial tribunal and 
that they have access to lawyers of their own choice. Demand that 
they be given the appropriate medical care necessitated by their 
condition. Insist that they open a thorough and impartial inquiry 
into the above mentioned allegations in order to identify those 
responsible and punish them in accordance with the law. Urge them to 
ensure the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the 
country at all times in accordance with international standards. 

Addresses: 

Yitzak Rabin, Prime Minister's Office, P.O. Box 187, Jerusalem 91001, 
Israel - Tlx: 25279 MPRES IL  Fax: 972-2-664838  //  Moshe Arens, 
Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, 7 "A" Street  Hakirya,  Tel 
Aviv 67659, Israel - Tlx: 371434 MOD IL - Fax: + 972 3 21 7915 // 
Dan Meridor, Minister of Justice, Salah el-Din 29, P.O. Box 1087, 
91010 Jerusalem, Israel Fax: 972-2 / 708590 Tel: 972-2-708591  // 
Joseph Harish, Attorney General, P.O. Box 1087, Jerusalem, Israel - 
Fax: 972-2-869473  //  Gabriel Amir, Commissioner of Prisons, Israeli 
Prison Service, 5 Histadrut Street, Jerusalem 94230, Israel - Fax: 
972-2-249804  //  Roni Milo, Minister of Police, P.O. Box 2001, 
Jerusalem 91020, Israel - Fax: 972-2-811832  // Jacob Rubin Adv., 
Head of the Israeli Bar, 1 Chopin St., Jerusalem 92190, Israel - Fax: 

972-2-788738 
23 September 1992 

Please inform us of any action undertaken, (kindly mention the code 
number of the appeal in any related correspondence). 
LAYOUT 000 
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive