Israel: Arbitrary detention and torture of Palestinian woman

                                  
                        Case ISR 090399.VAW
                       VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN


The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT 
intervention regarding the following situation in Israel.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat has been informed by The Public Committee 
Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), member of the OMCT network,  of the 
arbitrary detention of Mrs. Munah Hassan Awad Barhasin and the ill-
treatment and even torture inflicted upon her in Israel.

According to information received,  on 15 February 1999, Mrs. Munah 
Hassan Awad Barhasin, a Palestinian, was arrested and since then, has 
been held in detention in the GSS Interrogation Unit of the Kishon 
Detention Center.  From the time of  her arrest, she has been on a hunger 
strike.

It has been further reported that an order prohibiting Mrs Barhasin's 
meeting with her legal representative was imposed but it has already 
been lifted.  At a military hearing held on 2 March 1999, her remand was 
extended for 15 days.

According to PCATI, female Palestinian detainees are generally forced to 
endure relentless physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their 
interrogators.  Moreover, while the conditions under which male 
detainees are kept can only be described as appalling, the security 
services have made no accommodations whatsoever for female detainees.

To date, Mrs Barhasin has been forced to share a cell with Israeli criminal 
detainees, most of whom are charged with prostitution and drug use or 
drug trafficking.  It is further alleged that during interrogation sessions, 
she has been subjected to ill-treatment and even torture by Abu Manire, 
who has forced her into the shabeh position for long periods.  

The International Secretariat fears for her physical and psychological 
integrity.

Action requested

Please write to the Israeli authorities urging them to

i.  ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs. Munah 
    Hassan Awad Barhasin at all times and ensure her right to legal 
    counsel and to adequate medical assistance;

ii. keep Mrs. Barhasin separated from convicted persons as well as 
    from male detainees and, in general, ensure separate treatment 
    appropriate to her status, as mandated by Rule 8 of the Standard 
    Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;

iii.order her immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges 
    or, if such charges exist, bring her before an impartial and 
    competent tribunal and guarantee her procedural rights in all 
    times;

  iv. carry out a full and impartial investigation into the alleged 
    arbitrary detention , ill-treatment and torture, in order to identify 
    those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil 
    and/or administrative sanctions provided by law in accordance 
    with international legal standards;

  v.  guarantee all human rights and fundamental freedoms and 
    conform their actions to the international human rights 
    standards.

Addresses 

Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street, 
Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007, State of Israel. Telex 25279 mpres il. Fax + 972 
3 691 7915 or + 972 2 566 48 38.

Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 
91029, State of Israel.  Fax + 972 2 52 85 438.

Mr. Yitzhak Mordechai, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, 7 "A" 
Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax(+972-3)697 62 18.

Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah, 
Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax + 972 2 5826 
769.

The Embassy of Israel in your respective countries.

Geneva, 9 March 1999

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.