[News] Palestinian political prisoner Hussam Khader

[News at freedomarchives.org]

Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 5:48 PM


http://sumoud.tao.ca/?q=node/view/118

U R G E N T     A C T I O N

1 September 2004

HUSSAM KHADER, PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, IS PUT UNDER
INVESTIGATION AFTER 16 DAYS OF HUNGER STRIKE, AND TRANSFERRED TO THIRD
PRISON SINCE THE STRIKE BEGAN.

HUSSAM IS STILL BEING HELD IN ISOLATION, AS ARE OTHER LEADERS, AND HIS LEGAL
TEAM HAVE BEEN REFUSED ACCESS TO SEE HIM.

Hussam Khader, PLC member, who, along with over 4,000 other Palestinian
political prisoners, has been on hunger strike for 16 days now, was moved on
Monday 30 August to Al-Jalameh Prison, and put under investigation. Hussam
was arrested - his 24th time in an Israeli jail - in March 2003 by the
Israeli army and was interrogated for 90 days during which, like thousands
of other Palestinian prisoners, he was tortured and suffered inhuman and
degrading treatment (according to human rights groups, Israel has
systematically tortured or ill-treated approximately 80% of all Palestinian
detainees). His next court hearing was recently postponed for the 8th time
until 19 September 2004.

Khader's lawyer, Riad Al-Anis, tried to visit Hussam Khader today Tuesday 31
August but was refused access to see his Hussam. The day before, Buthaina
Duqmaq from the Mandela Institute for Human Rights, also tried to visit
Hussam Khader and other prisoners held in solitary confinement in Ovik
Prison, but was also refused access to see the striking prisoners (see
http://www.mandela-palestine.org/en_strike2004/daily.htm)

Khader's lawyer, Riad Al-Annis, will try to visit Hussam Khader again
tomorrow Wednesday 1 September.

Like thousands of other Palestinian political prisoners, Hussam has not had
regular access to his lawyer since his arrest, nor to any family visits
(prisoners from Nablus have been denied all family visits since the
beginning of the second intifada in September 2000). His three young
children have not been able to visit or speak to their father for nearly 18
months, and have only seen him across the military court room, unable to
speak to him, on 3 occasions at court hearings. The family has had one
letter from Hussam that arrived after 3 months.

This is Hussam's second hunger strike this year; in March 2004, he was on
hunger strike for 9 days to protest at being held in solitary confinement
for over 1 year. He ended this hunger strike on 25 March when he was moved
to share a cell with another prisoner.

The Popular Committee in Solidarity with Hussam Khader believe that his
imprisonment has been, for the most part, motivated by political objectives
that aim to breaking Hussam Khader's will and his determination to challenge
Israel's occupation, and his firm commitment to the right of return for
Palestinian refugees, and speaking out against corruption and a lack of
financial accountability.

PLEASE SEND AN URGENT E-MAIL OR FAXES TO THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND
YOUR GOVERNMENT TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE INHMANE INTERROGATION THAT
HUSSAM KHADER IS BEING SUBJECTED TO AND FOR HIM TO BE ALLOWED IMMEDIATE
ACCESS TO HIS LAWYERS AND TO MEDICAL TREATMENT.


TALKING POINTS:

-         Demand an immediate end to the interrogation which Hussam Khader
is being subjected to

-         Demand that Hussam Khader and all prisoners be allowed regular
access to their lawyers, as guaranteed under international law

-         Demand immediate access to proper medical treatment and medical
checks for all prisoners on hunger strike so that their health and
well-being can be independently assessed during their time on hunger strike.

-         Demand that Israel ends all practice of torture and other cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment to which Palestinian prisoners are regularly
subjected

-         Request your government exert severe pressure on the state of
Israel, its political, judicial and military authorities to apply the rules
of the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as other internationally recognized
instruments guaranteeing political prisonersâ?T basic standards of
treatment.

CONTACTS:

ICRC Delegation
Tel.: (++972) 35 24 52 86
Fax: (++972) 35 27 03 70
E-Mail: tel_aviv.tel at icrc.org
Head of deleg.: Mr Bellon François
Media contact person: Mr Masad Uriel

Jerusalem
Tel.: (++972 2) 582 88 45 / 582 84 41; Fax: (++972 2) 581 13 75
E-Mail: jerusalem.jer at icrc.org
Head of mission: Mr Cavoli Daniel



Ghassan Khader
P.O.Box: 738 Nablus
Palestine
Telfax: +972 9 2338930
Mobile: +972 59 382930




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