[child-rights] Children kept in temporary detention center in inhumane conditions for over one month

For immediate release
Date 22/04/03
Reference 006

PRESS RELEASE:
GROSS VIOLATION OF CHILD RIGHTS: CHILDREN KEPT IN TEMPORARY DETENTION
CENTER IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS FOR OVER ONE MONTH


At least 7 Palestinian children have been detained for over three weeks in
inhumane temporary detention conditions at Bet El military base just
outside Ramallah. Eleven children are living and sleeping in an area of 5
square metres. They are allowed to take a 30 minute break just once a week.
The youngest of the children, is 14 years old. DCI has taken affidavits
from six of the children, at least two of whom have been subjected to
positional torture, or shabeh. None of the children have been allowed to
receive family visits.  DCI believes that the current situation contravenes
numerous international laws concerning the rights of detained children.

  "No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishmentÖNo child shall be deprived of his or her
liberty unlawfully or arbitrarilyÖChildren shall be treated with humanity
and respect and in a manner which takes into account the needs of persons
of his or her age". Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 37)

DCI/PS therefore urgently calls for an immediate transfer of these child
detainees to a detention center which accounts for their needs and complies
with international law.


BACKGROUND:

Munir and Ibrahim (see affidavit below) are just two of the six prisoners
who have spoken to DCI/PS about the conditions in Bet El Detention Center.
Their affidavits illustrate that this facility is completely unfit for
long-term detention, particularly of children. The rooms are extremely
small and children and adults are being held together. There is a lack of
basic facilities including mattresses and blankets, clothes, books and
stationery and decent food.

Although this center is supposed to be for temporary detention, all six
children have been detained for at least 3 weeks and some, for over 5 weeks
in these inhumane conditions. One of the children has been sentenced to 4
months imprisonment. But despite this, he is still being held in the
temporary center.

Worsening detention conditions can be seen within the context of a rapid
increase in  child arrests over the last three years. Since the beginning
of the al-Aqsa intifada, 1650 Palestinian children have been arrested by
the Israeli authorities. Around 320-350 of these remain in Israeli jails.
Although child arrest is meant to be a measure of last resort, the Israeli
authorities arrest, detain and torture children as a matter of routine.
This is a further demonstration of Israel's lack of regard for
international law, and specifically, the Convention on the Rights of the
Child.

AFFIDAVITS:

  Munir Zahran from Deir Abu-Misha'l, 14 years old, detained at Bet El
temporary detention center.

According to his affidavit taken by DCI/PS:

"I was arrested on the 3rd of April (2002) and then they decided to detain
me, pending trial. According to the court decision I was supposed to be
transferred to another center, but until now this has not happened.
The detention circumstances are very hard. We are with 11 detainees in this
very small room of a bit more than 5 m¾. There are two adults being held
with us. We sleep on 4 mattresses and share 4 blankets.
We are allowed to use the bathroom three times a day only and we can take a
shower once a week. We are given a recess once a week of 15-30 minutes.
The administration does not provide any goods, or clothes. We do not have
anything to spend our time with, just we sit and talk. Sometimes we are
given Hebrew newspapers, but we cannot read Hebrew.
I need to be transferred immediately."


Ibraheem Mohammed Salam ElHajj  15 years old

According to his affidavit taken by DCI/PS:

"I am giving this affidavit to transfer me from Bet El to another detention
center. I was taken on 18/3 and on the 1st of April they decided to detain
me, pending trial. The situation is unbearable. We are in a very small room
with 11 people: we sleep on 4 mattresses: every three detainees share a
blanket and a mattress. We are allowed to use the bathroom only three times
a day on specific times. And only once a week we are allowed to take a 30
minutes recess.
There is nothing in the room, we spent our time sitting and talking: there
are no books etc.
Regarding the food: we get 3 meals a day, but it is of bad quality and it
is not enough either. The prison guards and administration are treating us
very bad. They force us into shabeh position: they tie our hands up and one
leg and then we have to face the wall. I want to leave as soon as possible
from this detention center."
-END-



Defence for Children International/Palestine Section
is an independent, Palestinian non-governmental
organization, established in 1992 to promote and
protect the rights of Palestinian children as articulated
in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well
as in other international instruments.

DCI/PS, P.O. Box 55201, Jerusalem
Tel:	  +972 2 240 7530
Fax:	  +972 2 240 7018
(Note: please try and use +970, if the above country code does not work)
Email:	  dcipal@palnet.com
Website: 	http://www.dci-pal.org