Al Mezan Condemns the Mass Summoning of Fatah Movement Leaders in Gaza and Calls for an Investigation into Violations of the Law

In the last week, large numbers of Fatah movement and Fatah Youth Organization activists and leaders have been summoned for interrogation by the Government in Gaza’s security apparatus throughout the Gaza Strip, according to Al Mezan investigations.
The individuals summoned were interrogated and then released hours later.
Several of those released were told to return to the internal security apparatus on 23 April 2009 and Saturday 25 April 2009.
  The mass summoning of Fatah leaders commenced on Monday 20 April 2009 with the summoning of both secretary and members of Fatah movement district committees throughout the Gaza Strip.
As of 23 April 2009, summons were still being issued.
Al Mezan has identified the following specific incidents:     In North Gaza District the following people were summoned:   Jamal ‘Abeed, the secretary of the Fatah movement in North Gaza; Mohammed Nasir, the secretary of the Fatah movement in Jabalia An-Nazla; and the following five members of the movement's district committee - Abd Al-Aziz Al-Maqadama, Iyad Al-Ameital, Maher Abu Harbeed, Ahmed I‘beed and ‘Aqel Ash-Sheik Khalil Two Fatah movement activists: Majed Shaheen and Omar Khaddoura.
Ra’ed Abd Al-Haleem Abu Hussein, the President of the Student Council of Al Quds Open University, North Gaza branch, and two members of the student council: Mazen Hamouda and Abd Al-Hadi Sbeitan.
  Mahran Al-Majbar, a member of the general assembly of the Fatah Youth Organization at Al-Quds Open University in North Gaza, as well as 13 of its members who are: Fadi Abu Warda; Mohammed Breik; Islam Haweila; Husam Al-Ajwari; Ala An-Najjar; Mohammed Al-Kahlout; Mohammed Hussein; Ra’ed Al-Feyyoumi, Mustafa As-Saftawi, Fadi Nasir, Mohammed Hajazi, Tha’er Abu Al-Jidyan; and Mahmoud Hasouna.
  In Gaza District the following person were summoned:   Ahmed ‘Ilwan, secretary of east Gaza committee in the Fatah movement.
  In Middle District the following people were summoned:   Mahmoud Al-Qalqili, secretary of the Fatah movement in the Middle District Kamal Abd Al-Hameed As-Souri, member of the Middle District Fatah movement committee and president of the popular committee for refugees in An-Nuseirat refugee camp Ismail Darweesh, secretary of the Fatah movement in Al-Maghazi refugee camp Ali At-Tahrawi, member of Fatah in Al-Bureij refugee camp Sa’eed Abu Mesbeh, member of Fatah in Deir Al-Balah

  In Khan Younis District the following people were summoned:   Nabil Kamal Al-Agha, secretary for central Khan Younis committee Iyad Nasir, secretary for west Khan Younis committee Mahmoud Qannan, a Fatah Youth Organisation coordinator Salem Abu Salah, secretary-general for east Khan Younis committee   They were all summoned to the police office at Naser Hospital in Khan Younis where they were questioned.
  In Rafah District the following people were summoned:   Salah Al-Uweisi, Imad Abd Al-Wahab, Khaled Ahmed Mousa, all of whom are members of the Rafah Fatah movement committee Ahmed Husni Mahmoud Abdul Latif, secretary of Abu Jihad area in the Fatah movement.
  According to the claims of people summoned, these actions are being carried-out in response to a shooting incident in the West Bank which targeted PLC member Sheikh Hamed Al-Beetawi.
Al Mezan Center condemned this attack and called for its perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The mass summoning of Fateh members in Gaza are believed to be a reaction to their refraining from denouncing the attack on Sheikh Beetawi.
Of those summoned and interrogated, three were beaten and cuffed in the shabah position (painful binding of the detainee's hands and feet to a chair).
The remainder said they were treated well and not beaten.
  Al Mezan notes the use of the police office at Naser Hospital in Khan Younis as a place of interview and questioning.
       Al Mezan Center condemns the holding of Fatah movement leaders and activists on the basis of political affiliation and is gravely concerned about the content of the interrogations which centered on the political activities of Fatah movement members and the attack on Mr.
Al-Beetawi, rather than any violation of the law.
  Al Mezan restates its condemnation of any violation of freedom of opinion, expression or political affiliation, and especially the carrying-out of arbitrary arrests whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip and regardless of the political affiliation of detainees.
    Al Mezan calls on the Government in Gaza to: Take all necessary measures to ensure law enforcement officials respect and apply the law, and comply with Palestinian law governing detentions.
Refrain from carrying out any arrests without full observation of the legal process, which requires that a person's arrest or summon can only occur in accord with a writ of habeas corpus issued by authorized bodies.
Treat detainees in a way which maintains their dignity.
  Al Mezan stresses that threatening punishment for crimes perpetrated by others breaches the law and may not be resorted to by law enforcement officers.
  Al Mezan emphasizes that these practices violate the law and contravene the Order issued by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of the Government in Gaza, the then Minister of Interior, on 19 September 2007 (Order No.
2007/128 directed at the security services).
They are also contravene with the ruling of the government committee which investigated the murder of Zayid Jaraadat while in the police custody on 31 March 2009.
The committee's ruling was approved by PM Haniya.
  Al Mezan calls on all relevant parties in the Government to abide by their obligations by investigating these incidents and deterring them.
  Ends