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PHROC Calls for the Immediate Release of Hunger Striking Administrative Bilal Kayed
14، Jul 2016

belal-kayed-posterThe Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) calls for the immediate release of hunger striking administrative detainee Bilal Kayed, who has been on hunger strike for 30 days. We have been informed by attorneys that Mr. Kayed has refused to undergo any medical examinations and to take any vitamins or salt supplements. He is currently only consuming water. He feels tiredness, dizziness, weakness, and inability to fall asleep. His weight has fallen significantly since his hunger strike. Mr. Kayed’s health severely deteriorates and will be transferred to a hospital. Mr. Kayed has lost consciousness due to his health condition.

Bilal Kayed, a 35-year-old Palestinian from Nablus, was arrested in 2001 and sentenced to 14-and-a-half years. He was previously placed in isolation in Rimon prison since September 2015 until his scheduled release on 13 June 2016. However, a six-month administrative detention order was issued against him on the same day of his scheduled release, immediately after which he was placed back in isolation. Mr. Kayed has been on hunger strike since 15 June 2016 in protest of his detention without charge or trial.

The Israeli occupation policy of administrative detention is used in a widespread and systematic manner, which violates international human rights and humanitarian law. Administrative detention can be only usedinemergency situations, but requires that the authorities follow basic rules for detention, including a fair hearing at which the detainee can challenge the reasons for his or her detention. These minimum standards of due process have been clearly violated in Mr. Kayed’s case, leaving him without any legitimate legal means to defend himself. The military court's order of administrative detention without having any clear evidence or conducting a serious investigation about the credibility of the information used against Mr. Kayedis arbitrary and contrary to relevant international norms and conventions; especially Article 78 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

PHROC holds that the use of administrative detention as a policy practiced by Israel, the occupying Power, is systemic and arbitrary, in contravention with international law. The use of administrative detention has attracted widespread condemnation from local and international organizations as a violation of fundamental human rights. Therefore, PHROC calls on all international organizations, including the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the European Union, and all High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to fulfill their obligations towards protecting human rights and enforcing the implementation of international humanitarian law, especially when grave breaches are being perpetrated in times of conflict and occupation. We call for pressure on the Israeli government to immediately release Mr. Kayed and end the use of administrative detention. PHROC affirms concluding observations of the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT), 13 May 2016, which called on the Israeli government to “[t]ake the measures necessary to end the practice of administrative detention and ensure that all persons who are currently held in administrative detention are afforded all basic legal safeguards.” PHROC calls for administrative detention, as practiced by the Israeli authorities, to be recognized as a form of psychological torture that should be prohibited in line with the UN Convention Against Torture.

 

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Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council 

Adameer Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association
Sahar Francis
General Director
aaldameer

Aldameer Association for Human Rights
Samer Mousa

Al-Haq-Small

Al-Haq
Shawan Jabarin
General Director

Mezan Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
Issam Younis
General Director
Badil

Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
Nidal Azza
General Director

DCI

Defence for Children International
Palestine Section
Khaled Kuzmar
General Director

Ensan

Ensan Center for Human Rights and Democracy
Hasieb Nashashibi
General Director

Hurryyat

Hurryyat - Centre for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights
Helmi Al-araj
General Director

JLAC

Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights
Issam Aruri
General Director

PCHRS

Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
Suhaib Sharif
General Director

wclac2 Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling
Randa Sanyora
General Director
pchr-gaza-logo

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Raja Sourani - General Director