Palestine: Political Prisoner Tortured

                          Case PAL 180599

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your intervention on the 
following situation in the Palestine Autonomous Areas.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed of the alleged 
torture of detainee, Mr. Ayman Al Amsi in the Palestine Autonomous 
Areas .

According to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human rights 
and the Environment, LAW, a member of the OMCT network, on 14 
March 1999, members of the Palestinian Criminal Police Department 
arrested Mr. Ayman Al Amsi, aged 32, in Gaza. On 11 May 1999, Mr. 
Ayman Al Amsi,  who was being held in detention by the Gaza Criminal 
Police Department  was transferred to Ashifa' hospital in Gaza. 
According to the information, Mr. Al Amsi, from Jabalya Refugee Camp, 
was admitted to intensive care while still unconscious.  His entire body 
was reported to show signs of torture.

According to LAW, Mr. Al Amsi was previously arrested by the Israeli 
police on 11 February 1999 and released on bail on 26 February after 
being held for investigation. The Israeli police allegedly failed to find 
sufficient evidence against him and confirmed that his fingerprints did 
not match those found at the scene of the crime.  

According to the information received, Mr. Al Amsi is allegedly accused 
by the Palestinian authorities of the same offence.  

Action requested

Please write to the Palestinian authorities urging them to

i.  guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Mr. 
    Ayman Al Amsi;

  ii. provide immediate, adequate and free medical care to Mr. Al 
    Amsi and ensure adequate restitution, compensation, and 
    rehabilitation; 

  iii.order his immediate release if he is held in detention without  
    valid charges or, in the event that he has been charged, ensure 
    his right to a fair and impartial trial, his procedural rights and his 
    right to legal counsel at all times;

  iv. guarantee all human rights and fundamental freedoms in 
    accordance with national laws and international human rights 
    standards.

  Addresses

Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Khadra 
Building, Omar al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza, via Israel.  Fax + 972 7 2822 
365/6 ( if voice, say "fax, please").

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, 18 May 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.