PCHR Condemns the Detention of Dr. Mahmoud al-Ramahi, Secretary of the PLC, by IOF

http://www.pchrgaza.org/

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the detention of Dr. Mahmoud al-Ramahi, the Secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from Change and Reform Bloc of Hamas Movement, by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). It believes that such a detention is part of a continued targeting of PLC members, who were elected in the elections of January 2006. PCHR believes also that such a detention constitutes a form of reprisals and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilians, which are prohibited according to article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:25 on Wednesday, 10 October 2010, IOF stormed al-Shorfa neighborhood in al-Bireh town and broke into a two-storey building belonging to Dr. Mahmoud Abdul Rahman al-Ramahi, 47, the Secretary of PLC. After IOF entered the house, they requested the IDs of the building’s residents. Before they retreated after 20 minutes, they detained Dr. al-Ramahi and transported him to an unknown destination.

It should be noted that this detention is part of an Israeli continued campaign, which has targeted many MPs from the Change and Reform Bloc, ministers, and members of local councils in the West Bank since the end of January 2006. That campaign targeted Dr. al-Ramahi, as he was detained on 21 August 2006 and spent 32 months in IOF’s prisons until he was released in the end of March 2009. Many MPs, mainly from the Change and Reform Bloc, have been detained in IOF’s prisons so far.

PCHR repeats its condemnation of Dr. al-Ramahi, and:

1. Emphasizes that detention is a part of a planned targeting and undermining of the results of the legislative elections, which was democratically conducted on 25 January 2006;

2. Emphasizes that detention is a part of reprisals and collective punishment against the civilians, which are prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention; and

3. Calls for the immediate release of Dr. al-Ramahi and all Palestinian ministers and MPs detained in IOF’s prisons.