Israel/OPT
12.02.02
Urgent Interventions
Israel: extrajudicial execution of a child by the police
Case ISR 120202.CC
CHILD CONCERN
Extrajudicial execution
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by Al-Haq, a member of the network of OMCT that, on 8 February 2002, Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala (14), from Jerusalem was shot and killed by the Israeli police.
According to the information provided to Al-Haq by witnesses of the incident, Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala was one of four suspects chased by the police after an Israeli woman was stabbed and killed near the Jabal Al-Muqaber area of Jerusalem. It was reported that the Israeli police arrived at the scene of the stabbing just after it occurred, and began to chase the boys suspected of involvement in the attack, including 14-year-old Abu Mayala. The witnesses also reported hearing shooting, and one reported that he saw Abu Mayala fall to the ground.
After the incident the police released a statement saying that Abu Mayala died of heart failure after he was taken into custody, and the hospital where he was initially admitted reported that there were no signs of physical violence on his body. His family was unconvinced by the reports of the police, and therefore asked that an autopsy be performed. An examination was carried out by the heads of the Israeli Autopsy Center and the Palestinian Autopsy Center on 10 February 2002.
An examination of Abu Mayala’s internal organs indicated that he had been shot. His liver was fragmented and a bullet path was traced from his liver towards his heart. Using x-rays the doctors were able to locate the bullet in the boy’s abdomen. A hole was found in the left side of Abu Mayala’s underpants, and examination of his buttocks showed that the bullet had entered him from the lower left side of his buttocks. The autopsy results indicate that the boy was shot at a distance of 30 cm to one metre.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is deeply concerned about the killing of 14-year-old Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala. OMCT deems that this incident constitutes a violation of article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which enshrines the child’s right to life.
Action requested
Please write to the Israeli authorities urging them to:
i. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the killing of Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law.
ii. ensure respect of the right to life and physical integrity to all Palestinian children by effectively prohibiting excessive, disproportionate or indiscriminate use of force;
iii. guarantee adequate reparation to the family of Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Addresses
· Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street, Jerusalem 91007, Israel. Fax:(+ 972 2)566 48 38 / 691 79 15 E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.il or feedback@pmo.gov.il
· Meir Shitrit, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel. Fax:(+ 972 2) 62 8 54 38 or Fax: ++ 972 2 628 8618 Email: sar@justice.gov.il
· Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, 7 "A" Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax:(+972-3)691 69 40, e-mail: sar@mod.gov.il
· Eli Yishai, Minister of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior, Fax: 00972 2 670 1411 Email: sar@moin.gov.il
· Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax:(+ 972 2)582 67 69
· Shimon Peres, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax:(+ 972 2) 530 3704 E-mail: sar@mofa.gov.il
· The Supreme Court of Justice, Kiryat Ben Gurion, Jerusalem, Israel. Fax: (+ 972 2) 652 71 18
· Uzi Landau, Minister of Internal Security, Ministry of Internal Security P.O Box 18182, 3 Sheirkh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala jerusalem, 91181, Israel. Fax: (+ 972 2) 582 67 69, E-mail : sar@mops.gov.il
Please also write to the embassies of Israel in your respective country.
Geneva, 12 February 2002
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
CHILD CONCERN
Extrajudicial execution
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by Al-Haq, a member of the network of OMCT that, on 8 February 2002, Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala (14), from Jerusalem was shot and killed by the Israeli police.
According to the information provided to Al-Haq by witnesses of the incident, Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala was one of four suspects chased by the police after an Israeli woman was stabbed and killed near the Jabal Al-Muqaber area of Jerusalem. It was reported that the Israeli police arrived at the scene of the stabbing just after it occurred, and began to chase the boys suspected of involvement in the attack, including 14-year-old Abu Mayala. The witnesses also reported hearing shooting, and one reported that he saw Abu Mayala fall to the ground.
After the incident the police released a statement saying that Abu Mayala died of heart failure after he was taken into custody, and the hospital where he was initially admitted reported that there were no signs of physical violence on his body. His family was unconvinced by the reports of the police, and therefore asked that an autopsy be performed. An examination was carried out by the heads of the Israeli Autopsy Center and the Palestinian Autopsy Center on 10 February 2002.
An examination of Abu Mayala’s internal organs indicated that he had been shot. His liver was fragmented and a bullet path was traced from his liver towards his heart. Using x-rays the doctors were able to locate the bullet in the boy’s abdomen. A hole was found in the left side of Abu Mayala’s underpants, and examination of his buttocks showed that the bullet had entered him from the lower left side of his buttocks. The autopsy results indicate that the boy was shot at a distance of 30 cm to one metre.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is deeply concerned about the killing of 14-year-old Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala. OMCT deems that this incident constitutes a violation of article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which enshrines the child’s right to life.
Action requested
Please write to the Israeli authorities urging them to:
i. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the killing of Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law.
ii. ensure respect of the right to life and physical integrity to all Palestinian children by effectively prohibiting excessive, disproportionate or indiscriminate use of force;
iii. guarantee adequate reparation to the family of Samer Ziad Sliman Abu Mayala;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Addresses
· Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street, Jerusalem 91007, Israel. Fax:(+ 972 2)566 48 38 / 691 79 15 E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.il or feedback@pmo.gov.il
· Meir Shitrit, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel. Fax:(+ 972 2) 62 8 54 38 or Fax: ++ 972 2 628 8618 Email: sar@justice.gov.il
· Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, 7 "A" Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax:(+972-3)691 69 40, e-mail: sar@mod.gov.il
· Eli Yishai, Minister of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior, Fax: 00972 2 670 1411 Email: sar@moin.gov.il
· Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax:(+ 972 2)582 67 69
· Shimon Peres, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax:(+ 972 2) 530 3704 E-mail: sar@mofa.gov.il
· The Supreme Court of Justice, Kiryat Ben Gurion, Jerusalem, Israel. Fax: (+ 972 2) 652 71 18
· Uzi Landau, Minister of Internal Security, Ministry of Internal Security P.O Box 18182, 3 Sheirkh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala jerusalem, 91181, Israel. Fax: (+ 972 2) 582 67 69, E-mail : sar@mops.gov.il
Please also write to the embassies of Israel in your respective country.
Geneva, 12 February 2002
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.