Press Release - November 01, 2003
Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association is gravely concerned for the health of Palestinian female prisoner Amneh Mounah, who has begun her sixth day of open ended hunger strike, protesting against physical attacks against her and her continued isolation. Addameer’s lawyer, Adv.

 

Mahmoud Hassan, was able to take a full account of the attack against Mounah during a visit on Thursday 30 October 2003, and able to see the physical effects of the attack. Mounah is in immediate need of medical attention as a result of injuries sustained to her back, waist area and left hand from the attack.

On the morning of Saturday 25 October 2003, Mounah was transferred from her cell at Ramleh Prison to an isolation cell within the same prison. After an hour of being in isolation, a number of prison guards came to her cell and told her to strip in order for them to search her. According to testimony given by Mounah, the prison guards gave her a choice, either she took off her clothes of her own free will, or they would bring a large force of guards to strip her. She refused to strip, stating that it was not within their rights to make her remove her clothes, particularly as there were male prison guards in the cell. The prison guard told her that they would make the male guards stand behind the door while she stripped, but she again refused.

 

The prison guards then left, but after an hour returned with a larger force of prison guards, headed by “Asher”, and began to physically assault Mounah, also forcing her to strip and attacking her with tear gas in the isolation cell. She suffered forceful blows to the waist, back and hands. According to Mounah testimony, one of the guards, “Shabi”, grabbed her by the throat and began to strangle her, at the same time screaming at her “You are a terrorist!” She began to lose consciousness at this point, and also began to bleed from her mouth. At that point, Mounah felt that someone had pulled him away from her.

 

Three hours later, she was transferred to another isolation cell and given a sedative. She received no other medical attention. The prison director visited her in the isolation cell, informing her that she was to remain in isolation for 7 days, charging her that she had attacked 3 prison guards. On Sunday 26 October Mounah began an open-ended hunger strike in protest of the attack and the conditions of her detention in isolation. On Monday 27 October, she was transferred to another isolation cell at the Ramleh Hospital, where she has also not received medical attention, and on Tuesday 28 October, she began refusing water.

 

The isolation cell in which she is being held at Ramleh hospital does not have a toilet, and in order for her to use the toilet or to bathe she must be taken out of the isolation cell in shackles. Mounah has refused to bathe while shackled, and was not allowed to bathe without the shackles until Wednesday 29 October.

 

In her testimony, Mounah also reported that 40 of the female prisoners held with her began a solidarity hunger strike in protest of the attack. Six women were subsequently placed in isolation, including ‘Aishah ‘Abeyat, ‘Umayah Dammaj, Ra’eda Jadallah, Wasfiyeh Abu ‘Ajamiyeh, Samar Bader and Su’ad Ghazal. Two of these women, Aishe and Su’ad were also attacked.

 

Adv. Mahmoud Hassan confirmed that the effects of the attack against Amneh are clear on her body. She is suffering from extreme pain as a result of the beatings and having gas thrown at her.

 

The prison administration confiscated personal property and basic needs of female prisoners of approximately 40 prisoners, including mattresses and televisions, and refused them canteen for supplies.

Letters of protest and enquiries regarding the well being of Amneh Mounah may be addressed to:

 

Ministry of Justice
Department for International Agreements
and International Litigation
Fax: +972 3 6899792/758
Email: international@justice.gov.il