Israel: Follow up detention of Mr. Faud Abed Kuran

Case ISR 070198.1
First follow up of Case ISR 070198

The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information
about the following situation in Israel. 

Brief reminder of the situation :
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), member of the
network, informed the International Secretariat of its grave concern
for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr Faud Abed Kuran.

According to information received, Mr Faud Abed Kuran, a student of
Bir Zeit University (identity number #902921287 and resident of Al
Bireh), was arrested on December 10th by the Israel General Security
Services (GSS), on suspicion of membership of the Hamas Organisation.
Mr Kuran was brought to the Russian Compound detention centre and has
been held in the GSS interrogation wing since his arrest. Mr Faud Abed
Kuran is the brother of Adel Awad' allah, a Hamas member, and wanted
by the Israeli Authorities.

Since his detention Mr Faud Abed Kuran has been denied access to legal
representation and is being subjected to mental and physical pressure.

On Thursday 25th the PCATI filed through attorney Leah Tsemel and
Allegra Pacheco, a petition to Israel's High Court of Justice on
behalf of Mr Kuran. The petition requested that the high court
intervene to stop the use of torture during Mr Kuran's interogation,
and that Mr Kuran be allowed to meet with his legal representatives.
In the hearing the following day the court refused the lawyers to meet
Mr Kuran. Up to the date of this appeal the lawyers continue to be
denied access.

On Sunday December 28th the Court demanded within 48 hours the
interrogation logbook. On the 29th of December, in a closed session,
Mr Kuran testified that his conditions were very difficult. The
lawyers were denied access to this session.

The PCATI filed an additional petition to the High Court on the
particular interrogation methods being used against Mr Kuran. In
response to this the President of the High Court has scheduled an
unprecedented hearing before nine high court judges for a principle
discussion on the interrogation methods allowed in the Landau
Commission Report. The hearing will take place a 15:00 today, 7th
January 1998.

New information :

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), member of the
network, has informed the International Secretariat that the High
Court of Israel, after a special hearing regarding the case of Mr Faud
Abed Kuran on 7 January 1998, rendered no decision after the General
Security Service (GSS) declared they were no longer interrogating him.
Mr Kuran is still being detained and the order preventing him from
meeting with this attorney remains in place.

Another hearing has been called to further review his case and to
examine the use of the "defence of necessity" with regard to the use
of torture. The hearing will discuss the legality of the use of
torture method known as "Shabeh" as well as the use of torture method
known as "shaking". No date has yet been set for this hearing.



Action requested:
Please contact the concerned Israel authorities urging them to:

i.	take immediate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological
integrity of Mr Faud Abed Kuran and all those detained in Israeli
detention facilities;

ii.	order the immediate release of Mr Faud Abed Kuran in the absence
of valid charges or, if such charges exist, bring him before a
competent and impartial tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights
at all times;

iii.	bring an immediate end to the use of torture and the judicial
sanction of its use in Israel;

iv.	guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into these facts,
identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and
impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative
sanctions provided by law;

v.	take all necessary measures to conform with their obligations
established by the Convention Against Torture. 

Addresses :
Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street,
Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007, State of Israel. Telex : 25279 mpres il. Fax
: + 972 3 691 7915 or + 972 2 566 48 38

Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street,
Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel.  Fax : + 972 2 52 85 438

Mr. Yitzhak Mordechai, 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

Geneva, 12 January 1998

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of
this appeal in your reply.

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.