The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its outrage at the behavior of a number of Palestinian officials and policemen towards mothers of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The women were physically and verbally abused at the Ministry of Finance and at the headquarters of Palestinian TV on June 15 and June 16, 1998.

Around 60 women, who are the mothers, wives and sisters of Palestinian detainees in Israel, approached the Ministry of Finance on June 15 to meet with Palestinian Minister of Finance, Zuhdi Nashashibi, and to demand their monthly stipends which were ten days overdue. Although the Ministry had issued their checks on June 5, the women were unable to cash the checks at the post office due to a lack of funds in the account.

Mrs. Hamduma Wishah, the mother of Jabber Wishah, who is serving a life sentence in the Israeli jail of Nafha, testified to PCHR that the women were prevented from entering the building to meet with the Minister. She added that she was beaten by a policeman and that she fell down and was knocked unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she found herself upstairs in the Ministry building where she was subsequently beaten by another policeman who used his hands and feet. Shahira Mustafa Abu al-Najar, mother of Haitham Abu al-Najar, who is serving a 15-year sentence at Nafha prison, testified to PCHR that her right arm was broken after a Palestinian policeman beat her with his weapon in front of the Ministry of Finance.

In another development, Hisham Macki, director of Palestinian TV, arrived at the Ministry and promised the women that he would intervene on their behalf, in order to secure their payments. He asked the women to follow-up with him the next day at the headquarters of Palestinian TV. Mrs. Wishah testified to PCHR that she arrived at the scheduled time with 8 other women to meet with Mr. Macki. They were received by an employee of Palestinian TV who prohibited them from entering the building and verbally abused them. Despite this attack, they informed him of their meeting with the director. In another testimony, Najat al-Falouji, mother of Dia al-Falouji, who is serving a life sentence at Nafha prison, informed the Centre that the employee abused her and attempted to run her over with his car.

It should be noted that Palestinian prisoners at Nafha jail who were informed about these developments expressed their anger and condemnation in a letter sent to President Arafat asking him to hold accountable all those responsible for abusing their mothers, wives and sisters. They also called upon President Arafat to establish a new ministry or directorate for prisoners’ affairs.

PCHR expresses its outrage at the humiliation and ill-treatment of the mothers, wives and sisters of Palestinian freedom fighters by the Palestinian officials and policemen. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Authority (PA) to investigate the incident and to take punitive measures against those responsible. PCHR also calls upon the PA to take the necessary steps to prevent repetition of this incident and to improve the relationship between Palestinian institutions and the families of Palestinian prisoners in Israel who have sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Palestinian people.

Hebcom Middle East Bureau
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