18 November, 1999
RE: Fear of Torture of South Lebanese Prisoners
Husayn æAli Haris, aged 48
Muhammad Mahmud Haris, aged 21
Haytham Bahjat AsÆad, aged 30
Nader Muhammad Khader, aged 30
Dear General Shoham/General Lahad,
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) has learned though
information from Amnesty International, that the four men mentioned
above
were arrested in the villages of æAyta al-ShaÆb and Belat
in South Lebanon
on the nineth and tenth of September, 1999. They were arrested by members
of
the South Lebanon Army (SLA) and the Israeli army, and are believed
to be
detained in Khaim Detention Centre.
The Khaim Detention Centre is infamous for its methods of torture against
its prisoners, and also for detaining prisoners indefinitely without
charges
or trial. Former detainees have recounted testimonies of whipping,
beating,
torture with electric shock and being doused with hot and cold water.
They
also attest to repeatedly being denied access to their lawyers.
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) is greatly concerned
about the welfare of the above mentioned detainees, considering reports
of
the harsh detention conditions in Khiam Detention Centre and descriptions
of
systematic abuse and torture.
PCATI inquires about the present status of these detainees and requests
an
immediate report of their condition. PCATI seeks assurance that
these
detainees will not be tortured or ill-treated in any way during their
detention. PCATI demands that these three prisoners be charged
and brought
to trial, according to international standards. If this is not
carried out
promptly, PCATI insists the prisoners be released immediately.
In addition
PCATI demands that the prisoners be allowed to meet with their attorneys,
representatives of the International Red Cross and their families and
receive medical attention without delay.
We await response on this matter.
Sincerely,
Hannah Friedman
Executive Director, PCATI
CC: Mr. Ehud Barak, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence
Shaul Mofaz, Chief of Staff-Israeli
Army
Amnesty International-London
S.O.S Torture Geneva
International Red Cross,
Tel Aviv