PCHR Seriously Concerned by Abductions and Interrogations of
Palestinians by Al-Quds Battalions
The Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights (PCHR) is extremely concerned about the abduction and
subsequent interrogation of several Palestinians by members of the Al-Quds
Battalions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. The abductions and
interrogations took place over the last ten days, when several
Palestinians were accused of collaborating with Israeli security
services.
In a statement published
issued on Tuesday, 20 May, 2008, the Al-Quds Battalions announced it had
detained three persons from the southern Gaza Strip who were alleged to
have been working with the Israeli security services. According to the
statement, “The cell that was uncovered by the Security Apparatus of the
Al-Quds Battalions includes very dangerous collaborators who were
recruited by the Occupation {Forces} in the 1990’s.”
Prior to publication of
this statement, an Islamic Jihad leader had confirmed the detentions to
a PCHR fieldworkers based in Rafah. The Islamic Jihad leader said the
three persons had confessed to the collaboration charges, and that all
three will be delivered to the Gaza Government at the end of their
interrogation. PCHR has collected preliminary information regarding the
abductions and interrogations of the three persons. The Centre
reiterates that suspected collaborators should face legal prosecutions;
but this is the sole jurisdiction of the law enforcement bodies of the
Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The Centre calls for the 3
suspected collaborators to be handed over to the relevant PNA
authorities, represented by the Attorney-General, in order that
appropriate legal action be taken.
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PCHR calls upon the Al-Quds Battalions
to ensure the safety of the detainees, and to deliver them to the
relevant authorities in the PNA, represented by the
Attorney-General, for the appropriate legal action to be taken
against them.
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The Centre reiterates that the Al-Quds
Battalions, and all other military wings of Palestinian factions, do
not have any jurisdiction to detain or question any person, as they
are not considered law enforcement agencies and hence have no legal
authorization to do so.
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The Centre also reiterates that
detentions are regulated by Palestinian law, which places them under
the sole jurisdiction of PNA law enforcement officials, represented
by the civilian police under order of the Attorney-General. The PNA
therefore has the exclusive right to prosecute suspected
collaborators, conditional to adherence to the law that ensures due
process of legal procedures.
