On the ill-treatment and detention of Marwan Barghouti

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is deeply concerned about the arrest and ill-treatment of Marwan Barghouti, elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and at present imprisoned at Petah Tikva Detention Centre.

According to EMHRN information, Mr. Barghouti was arrested in Ramallah by Israeli occupation forces and subsequently interrogated by the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet) who allegedly used methods of interrogation which include physical and psychological abuse to weaken the detainee’s concentration and self-control.

As a result, Mr. Barghouti was admitted to the prison’s clinic on 20 May 2002, and now suffers from severe pain in his back and hands, a result of prolonged hours of position abuse. In addition Mr. Barghouti has been subjected to sleep deprivation and reportedly been threatened with execution.

Israel has ratified key human rights treaties that address torture and ill-treatment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 7) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Israel is thus legally bound by international treaties. Furthermore, Israeli law prohibits torture, and provides that public servants, who use or direct the use of force against persons with the purpose of extorting a confession of an offence or information relating to an offence, are liable to imprisonment.

The EMHRN is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Marwan Barghouti and calls on the Israeli authorities to guarantee that he is not subjected to any such treatment, that he is provided with appropriate medical assistance, and that he is released in the absence of valid legal charges.

More generally, the EMHRN is gravely concerned about the increasing number of arbitrary arrests by the Israeli authorities and their use of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and torture of Palestinian prisoners.

The EMHRN urges the EU institutions to immediately approach the Israeli authorities and demand them to live up to their international obligations.