Press Release - October 21, 2001
Palestinian security forces have entered the third day of a campaign of political arrests against many individuals and leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, after the PFLP military wing took responsibility for the military action against the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rehevam Ze’evi, in response to the assassination of PFLP leader Abu Ali Mustafa on 27 August 2001. The arrests come as a response to political and military pressure from the Israeli and US administrations against the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinian security forces have entered the third day of a campaign of political arrests against many individuals and leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, after the PFLP military wing took responsibility for the military action against the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rehevam Ze’evi, in response to the assassination of PFLP leader Abu Ali Mustafa on 27 August 2001. The arrests come as a response to political and military pressure from the Israeli and US administrations against the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinian human rights NGOs express their grave concern at the return of the PA to a policy of arbitrary political arrests of leaders and members of the PFLP and demand the following:
Immediately halt these political arrests which constitute a clear violation of the Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Articles 2, 3, 9, 12, 19 of the Declaration.
Immediately release those arrested and respect freedom of opinion as expressed within the Palestinian Declaration of Independence and other international covenants that uphold human rights and freedom of expression.
Palestinian human rights organizations reiterate their complete opposition to the policy of assassination and extra-judicial killing practiced by the Israeli authorities on Palestinian land since the beginning of the Intifada. Palestinian human rights NGOs support the right of Palestinians to struggle for their legitimate rights.
Palestinian human rights organizations warn the Palestinian Authority that the arrest of political activists presents a very real danger to the lives of these detainees. Placing political activists in prison presents them as targets to the Israeli military, as has been demonstrated in the past. For example, on 18 May 2001 when Israeli forces attacked the Nablus Central Civilian Prison in an attempt to kill Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, allegedly a leader of the military wing of HAMAS. The attack was carried out by F-16 warplanes and led to the deaths of at least 11 people.
Signed:
Al Haq
Arab Thought Forum - Centre for Citizens Rights
Mandela Institute for Human Rights
Democracy and Workers Rights Centre
Addameer Association for Prisoner Support and Human Rights
Defence for Children International - Palestine Section
Al Haq
Arab Thought Forum - Centre for Citizens Rights
Mandela Institute for Human Rights
Democracy and Workers Rights Centre
Addameer Association for Prisoner Support and Human Rights
Defence for Children International - Palestine Section