PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 15/059/2003

10 July 2003

UA 202/03 Fear of torture and ill-treatment/detention without charge

ISRAEL/OCCUPIED TERRITORIES 'Abd al-Nasser Quzmar (m), aged 30, farmer

‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar, from the village of Izbat Salman in theWest Bank, was arrested on 16 June. He is being held without charge by the Israeli General Security Services (GSS) in Israel and may be in danger of torture or ill-treatment.

At 2am on 16 June, Israeli soldiers surrounded the house where he lives with his wife, three children and other relatives, and ordered the whole family to come out of the house. They asked whether ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar was among them, and when he identified himself he was arrested and immediately taken away. He was taken to Kaddumim detention centre, in Kaddumim settlement, West Bank, where he was held for around a week without being questioned. He was then transferred to Petah Tikva, a GSS interrogation centre in Israel, where he is still being held and interrogated. He has not been charged with any offence. On 25 June, and again on 9 July, his arrest warrant was extended to enable the GSS to continue his interrogation. Under Israeli military law, he can remain detained without charge or trial for up to three months. After that, he could be placed under administrative detention, which would allow the Israeli authorities to detain him indefinitely without charge or trial.

‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar’s lawyer has been able to visit him regularly, although he has been refused entry to the detention centre several times because his client was under interrogation. ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar has reportedly been questioned for at least six hours every day since he was moved to Petah Tikva. He has told his lawyer that he is often interrogated for 12 hours a day and that he has on occasion been interrogated by up to four people from 10am until 3am the following day, thus depriving him of sleep. Such interrogation methods can be considered as psychological torture with the aim of coercing a confession. Amnesty International has consistently received reports of Palestinians being tortured and ill-treated in Israeli prisons and detention centres, and is concerned that other forms of torture or ill-treatment may be used in the continuing interrogation of ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar.

‘Abd al-Nasser's family is not able to visit him, as the detention centre is located in Israel, and Palestinians living in the West Bank do not have permission to travel there. He has therefore been unable to see his fourth child, who was born after his arrest.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Hebrew or your own language:

- expressing concern for ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar, who is being held at the Petah Tikva interrogation centre, where he has reportedly been subjected to lengthy interrogation sessions;

- expressing concern at reports that other Palestinian detainees have been tortured or ill-treated during interrogation, and calling on the authorities to ensure that ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar and all detainees are humanely treated in detention, according to international standards;

- calling for the immediate release of ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar if he is not to be promptly charged with a recognizable criminal offence;

- expressing concern that the family of ‘Abd al-Nasser Quzmar is unable to visit him, and asking the Israeli authorities to ensure that all detainees have access to their families.

APPEALS TO:

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon,

Office of the Prime Minister

3 Kaplan Street, P O Box 187

Jerusalem 91919, Israel

Telegram: Prime Minister, Jerusalem, Israel

Fax: + 972 2 6512631 / 6705475

Telex: 25279 MPRES IL

E-mail: rohm@pmo.gov.il / pm_eng@pmo.gov.il

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Minister of Justice Yosef Lapid

Ministry of Justice

29 Salah al-Din Street

Jerusalem 91010, Israel

Telegram: Justice Minister, Jerusalem, Israel

Fax: + 972 2 6285438

E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il

Salutation: Dear Minister

Major General Menachem Finkelstein

Judge Advocate General

Israeli Defence Forces

6 David Elazar Street

Hakirya

Tel Aviv, Israel

Telegram: Judge Advocate General, Tel Aviv, Israel

Fax: + 972 3 5694370

Salutation: Dear Major General

COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of Israel/Occupied Territories accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 21 August 2003.