The PA has consistently violated human rights since the 1993 Declaration of Principles. He reported that 24 political prisoners had been tortured and died in Palestinian jails, three of them executed. Methods of torture were learned from the Israelis, he claimed.
Islamic law decrees punishment by amputation, public stoning and execution.
This by its very nature contravenes international humanitarian law. Dr. Waleed Sadi, Jordanian Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights, expressed optimism about Jordan's performance in the field of human rights. Jordan ratified international human rights treaties well in advance of Israel, said Sadi. However, these remain agreements on paper since they were signed by the King and not passed through Parliament. They therefore have no legal standing, he said.