At approximately 12pm on Friday 11 December 2009, Fareed Ahmed Abu Shahma, 42, was admitted to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit where doctors tried to save his life, but without success.
Medical sources at Nasser Hospital announced his death of a heart attack.
The dead body was then referred to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to be examined by forensic doctors and identify the causes of his death.
However, his family refused to allow for an autopsy to be carries out, and told the hospital that they were content with merely an external examination of the victim's dead body.
Information obtained by Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights show that: 1.
      According to affidavits given by the family of the deceased to Al Mezan, the  external examination of the dead body proved that there were no signs of torture or cuffs, and 2.
      The forensic report determined the reason behind the death was a 'sudden heart attack'.
  According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, at approximately 4pm on Wednesday 24 November 2009, the police arrested Abu Shahma on suspected criminal grounds.
During the detention period, he appeared before a court twice.
  On Thursday 10 December 2009, he was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as he suffered pain in the chest.
He underwent medical tests, to be returned to Khan Younis prison.
At approximately 11:30am on Friday 11 December 2009, he fainted while praying the mid-day prayer in the prison.
Then he was transferred to Nasser Hospital.
Medical tests and examinations were done for him, and the reason behind his death was announced as a heart attack.
Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights has followed Abu Shahma case.
The given information indicates that Abu Shahma was not subject to torture and his death was from natural reasons; however, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights calls on the Gaza Government police to open an investigation to identify the accurate reasons behind the death of a detainee inside the prison.
According to article 15 of Rehabilitation and Reform Centres Law No 6, of 1998, every case of death that take place inside detention centres oblige the prison manager or his deputy to inform the public prosecution.
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