Prisoners group urges end to torture, ill treatment by Palestinian Authority forces

A Palestinian prisoners support organisation has demanded that Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces end the torture and ill-treatment of detainees.

Addameer: Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, issued its statement – ‘Bone of their Bone: Torture and Ill-Treatment by Palestinian Security Forces’ – on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

According to the NGO, in 2015-’16, it documented “continued cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment during arrest as well as in Palestinian prisons, detention and intelligence centres.” The arrests have “targeted university professors, students, journalists, teachers (teacher’s strike in February 2016) and civil society activists.”

In 2014, the Palestinian government signed and ratified several international conventions on the protection of human rights, including the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. The PA has also signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

However, Addameer states, “in recent years the Palestinian Authority has displayed an alarming lack of commitment and political will to implement the provisions of the Convention Against Torture.” Therefore, “the Palestinian human rights situation of Palestinian prisoners and detainees has deteriorated despite the accession to the treaty.”