Israel: Continued Use of Torture The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Case ISR 081196 The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel. Brief description of the situation : The International Secretariat has been informed, by a reliable source, of the continued use of torture by the Israeli Security Services. According to information received, on 16 October 1996 at 1:00 am, Azam Aarda (22) was arrested and taken for interrogation in Jalemah/Qishon prison. During the last three weeks, he has been allegedly tortured by the Israeli security services. Azam Aarda was put in contorted and painful sitting positions for continuous periods of five days denying him sleep. While his head remained covered with a thick sack, he was handcuffed for days to a small chair slanted in the front making it very difficult to sit. Each time Azam Aarda fell asleep the interrogators hit him. He was also occasionally beaten and insulted. Azam Aarda is still being held in Jalemah/Qishon prison. The International Secretariat has also been informed, by a reliable source, of the continued administrative detention of Palestinians by the Israeli Security Services. According to information received, since the signing of the Oslo 2 Agreement, the Israelis added over 200 Palestinians to administrative detention tripling the number of detainees before the signing of the agreement. Action requested : Please contact the Israeli authorities urging them to : i. take the appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Azam Aarda and of all other Palestinians detained; ii. order the immediate release of Azam Aarda if he is detained without valid charges or, if such charges exist, bring him before a competent and impartial civil tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all times; iii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into the torture suffered by Azam Aarda, identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by legislation; iv. order the immediate release of all other Palestinians detained if they are detained without valid charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before a competent and impartial civil tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times; v. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards. Addresses : Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu Office of the Prime Minister 3 Kaplan Street Jerusalem 91919 State of Israel Telex : 25279 mpres il Fax : + 972 2 66 48 38 or + 972 3 69 17 915 Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice 29 Salah al-Din Street Jerusalem 91029 State of Israel Fax : + 972 2 285 438 Mr. Yitzhak Mordachai Minister of Defense Ministry of Defense 3 Kline Street Jerusalem State of Israel Fax : + 972 3 691 69 40 or + 972 3 697 72 85 Minister of Police, Ministry of Police PO Box 18182 3 Sheikh Jarrah Kiryat Hamemshala Jerusalem 91181 State of Israel Fax : + 972 2 826 769 Geneva, 8 November 1996 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT - SOS Torture Tel: +41-22-733 31 40 Case Postale 119 Fax: +41 22-733 10 51 CH 1211 Geneva 20 Conf: omctsostorture@conf.igc.apc.org Switzerland OMCT@iprolink.ch OMCT is the l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture