It was reported that the taxi driver Hisham Hammad, 56, died on Jan.
24th 2007, while detained at the Rafah base of the Executive Force - formed by the Ministry of Interior - south of the Gaza Strip.
He had been arrested on Jan.
21st 2007, at app.
7:30.
According to initial information, members of the Executive Force in Abu Yousef Al Najjar Hospital called medics out to their base in central Rafah in order to collect a patient.
Medics reported that the man was already dead upon their arrival.
The corpse was transferred to Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for medical examination.
The family of the deceased, and Al Mezan's lawyer, attended the examination; the lawyer has superficially examined the body and taken several pictures showing traces of bruising all over the body, most notably the back, legs, genital organs and bottom.
This indicates that the body might have been subjected to torture, which calls for a serious and immediate investigation.
Based on the available information, the detention operation breached law standards in terms of both form of his arrest and his treatment, the victim was not arrested according to a bill of arrest issued by a specialized party.
Further, the detention place- which was in the site of the Executive Force - is not officially assigned for imprisonment or detention.
The apparent traces on the victim's body suggest that torture was the main factor in his death.
If proven, this would be a violation to human rights standards and the Palestinian law which bans torture stated in articles 11 to 15 of the Edited Palestinian Law.
Therefore, Al Mezan expresses sorrow over the death of the victim and demands the Attorney General to open serious investigation without delay in order to examine the legality of arresting procedures, collect the body, verify the place of detention and the unclear reason behind his death.
Al Mezan emphasizes the importance of taking procedures that would ensure the respect of law so as to provide protection to peoples' right to life and dignity, notably by institutions charged with the implementation of the law.
The Center's investigation on this case will continue.
END