Israel/OPT
20.01.00
Urgent Interventions
Israel: death in custody and suspected torture of Palestinian detainee
Case ISR 200100
The International Secretariat requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), a member of the OMCT network, of the death in custody and suspected torture of Palestinian detainee Lafi al- Rajabi, 20.
According to the information received, Lafi al-Rajabi died on Friday 14th January 2000, it is assumed, as a result of torture by Israeli police.
According to LAW's documentation, in an affidavit submitted to LAW by the victim's family, the victim was arrested approximately 7 months ago whilst he was attending a court hearing of one of his relatives in al-Ramleh. Al-Rajabi was arrested after being accused of having ties with criminal defendants and because he was not carrying his ID card at the time. Whilst he was being detained at one of the Israeli detention centers near the Ariel settlement, near Nablus, his family had visited him. During his detention Al- Rajabi was reportedly receiving threats from disguised persons as well as the police.
The victim's mother explained that her son had called her on Friday 14 January 2000 at 5:30pm. The family was told to intervene and request al-Rajabi's release immediately as it was considered his life was in danger. A few hours later, his family was informed, through the District Coordinating Office in Hebron, that their son had died. The police immediately claimed the deceased had strangled himself. The corpse was transferred by the Israeli police to the Abu Kbir institute for autopsy and then was delivered on 17 January 2000 to his family without an autopsy report or an investigation into the incident.
According to the victim's family, signs that he had been subjected to torture were apparent on his body. Marks that appeared to be from cable wire appeared around his neck and he had wounds and cuts on his back. His lips were also blue colored and bruises from apparent blows appeared under his armpit.
The International Secretariat of OMCT wishes to express its grave concern over this death in detention in Israel and urges the Israeli authorities to respect the rulings of the Israeli High Court and uphold the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and Convention Against Torture, both ratified by Israel.
Actions requested
Please write to the Israeli authorities urging them to:
i. order an immediate full and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the death of Lafi al-Rajabi in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
ii. guarantee adequate compensation and rehabilitation to the family of Rafi al-Rajabi;
iii. guarantee all human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses
Ehud Barak, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street
Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007, Israel, Faxes: +972 2 566 4838 and +972 3 691 7915
Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2 6285 438
Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, 7 "A" Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax: +972 3 697 62 18.
Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2 5826 769.
General Antoine Lahad South Lebanon Army, c/o Lieutenant- General Shaul Mufaz, Chief of General Staff, 7 `A' Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel
Faxes: + 972 3 691 6940
The Embassy of Israel in your respective countries.
Geneva, 19th January 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The International Secretariat requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), a member of the OMCT network, of the death in custody and suspected torture of Palestinian detainee Lafi al- Rajabi, 20.
According to the information received, Lafi al-Rajabi died on Friday 14th January 2000, it is assumed, as a result of torture by Israeli police.
According to LAW's documentation, in an affidavit submitted to LAW by the victim's family, the victim was arrested approximately 7 months ago whilst he was attending a court hearing of one of his relatives in al-Ramleh. Al-Rajabi was arrested after being accused of having ties with criminal defendants and because he was not carrying his ID card at the time. Whilst he was being detained at one of the Israeli detention centers near the Ariel settlement, near Nablus, his family had visited him. During his detention Al- Rajabi was reportedly receiving threats from disguised persons as well as the police.
The victim's mother explained that her son had called her on Friday 14 January 2000 at 5:30pm. The family was told to intervene and request al-Rajabi's release immediately as it was considered his life was in danger. A few hours later, his family was informed, through the District Coordinating Office in Hebron, that their son had died. The police immediately claimed the deceased had strangled himself. The corpse was transferred by the Israeli police to the Abu Kbir institute for autopsy and then was delivered on 17 January 2000 to his family without an autopsy report or an investigation into the incident.
According to the victim's family, signs that he had been subjected to torture were apparent on his body. Marks that appeared to be from cable wire appeared around his neck and he had wounds and cuts on his back. His lips were also blue colored and bruises from apparent blows appeared under his armpit.
The International Secretariat of OMCT wishes to express its grave concern over this death in detention in Israel and urges the Israeli authorities to respect the rulings of the Israeli High Court and uphold the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and Convention Against Torture, both ratified by Israel.
Actions requested
Please write to the Israeli authorities urging them to:
i. order an immediate full and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the death of Lafi al-Rajabi in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
ii. guarantee adequate compensation and rehabilitation to the family of Rafi al-Rajabi;
iii. guarantee all human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses
Ehud Barak, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street
Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007, Israel, Faxes: +972 2 566 4838 and +972 3 691 7915
Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2 6285 438
Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, 7 "A" Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax: +972 3 697 62 18.
Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2 5826 769.
General Antoine Lahad South Lebanon Army, c/o Lieutenant- General Shaul Mufaz, Chief of General Staff, 7 `A' Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel
Faxes: + 972 3 691 6940
The Embassy of Israel in your respective countries.
Geneva, 19th January 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.