The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
PAL 001 /9907/ OBS 052 Temporary arrest/ Harassment Palestinian Autonomous Areas 11th August 1999. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the FIDH and the OMCT, requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Palestinian Autonomous Areas. Brief description of the situation The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has been informed by, LAW, member of both the FIDH and OMCT, of the temporary arrest of a human rights defender, Saed El-Zain. According to the information received, on 11th August, 1999 at 22.30 hours, 26 year old Saed El-Zain, Programme Coordinator at the Centre for Democratic Advancement in Ramallah, without warrant, was arrested and his home searched, by Palestinian Preventive Security Services (PSS). He was released from police custody over one hour later. At the time of arrest, El-Zain had just returned from the Centre where Knesset-member Azmi Bishara had given a lecture. The PSS knocked at the door of his home in Im el-Shrayat, near Ramallah, and proceeded to push their way into the house. El-Zain asked to see the search and arrest warrant, but the commander told him that these would only be made available at the PSS station. When El-Zain asked what crime they suspected him of committing, the officer told him that the arrest-order had come from a senior officer and everything would be clarified at the station. The PSS did not obtain El-Zain's consent for the search, nor was he allowed to witness the entire search, as the officers fanned out looking across all the rooms at once. During the search, the PSS threw clothes and other possessions on the floor. The search lasted approximately half an hour after which the commander seized five diskettes and a document belonging to El-Zain. Upon arriving at the PSS headquarters, El-Zain was shown no search or arrest warrant and given no explanation at PSS Ramallah HQ. Instead the search team commander immediately began interviewing him asking personal questions about El-Zain and his family, which had no connection with a crime or circumstances surrounding a crime. El-Zain was then taken to the PSS director in Ramallah, Zacharia Musleh. When El-Zain asked Musleh why he had been arrested and his home searched, Musleh told El-Zain that the PSS found it odd that he had had no visitors, which suggests that El-Zain's home is under surveillance. Musleh went on to explain that the arrest was a mistake and that the PSS lawyer was away getting married and so no warrants were issued. At 23.45 El-Zain was permitted to leave the PSS headquarters and return home. Remarks The Observatory notes with concern that these events come within the context of a serious deterioration of relations between the authorities and human rights groups. This act comes as a further step in what appears to be a growing campaign to undermine, attack and vilify Palestinian NGOs, orchestrated by the Palestinian Authority (see PAL 002/9906/OBS 040 and PAL 002/9906/OBS 050). Action Requested Please write to the authorities urging that they i take appropriate measures to bring an end to the harassment of human rights defenders; ii. ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9 1998 (Declaration concerning the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups and institutions to promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental liberties ) in particular its Article 1 which provides that " Every person has the right, individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental liberties at the national and international level. " iii. guarantee the effective respect of fundamental human rights and freedoms in accordance with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the universal and regional Pacts and Covenants. Addresses Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Khadra Building, Omar al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza, via Israel. Fax (972) (7) 282 4670/1 Freih Abu Meddein, Palestinian Authority, Minister of Justice, Abu Khadra Building, Omar al-al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza, via Israel. Fax + 972 7 2822 236 Khalid al-Qidrah, Attorney General, Palestinian Authority, Attorney General Building, Yarmouk, Gaza, via Israel. Fax + 972 7 2824 502. Geneva- Paris, 11th August 1999
