By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
GAZA STRIP — “Abusive System: Criminal Justice in Gaza,” A Human Rights Watch (HRW) Report released on Wednesday, said that Hamas has routinely subjected Palestinian detainees to torture and abuse. The report says that since 2007, Hamas has executed at least three men over “confessions” obtained through torture. HRW now calls for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment in the Gaza Strip, and also for Hamas to cease the prosecution of civilians in military courts.
HRW’s report describes extensive violations by Hamas security services, including warrantless arrests, failure to promptly provide families of detainees information of their whereabouts, and also accounts of torture. HRW also reported about human rights violations within Hamas’ court system, such as the denying detainees access to a lawyer. HRW also discovered instances of detainees being deprived of their due process through warrantless arrests and abusive interrogations.
The Independent Commission for Human Rights, a non partisan Palestinian rights group, says it received 147 complaints of torture by the Internal Security Agency, the drugs unit of the civil police force in Gaza, and also by police detectives.
In a statement accompanying the report, Joe Stork, the deputy Middle East director of HRW, said that Gaza’s “ [c]riminal justice system reeks of injustice, routinely violates detainee’s rights, and grants impunity to abusive security services.”
The report charges Hamas for failing to prosecute any abusive security officials, and have essentially granted Internal Security service officials impunity from prosecution in particular.
Journalists also criticized Hamas for its reporting restrictions. A Palestinian press freedom group recanted a scene that occurred last Sunday, where they were warned of restrictions and threatened journalists with abuse for attempting to cover a rare demonstration, which criticized Hamas officials for their failure to put out a fire that killed a three year old boy. “We often receive threats when we cover events. I’m calling on Palestinian authorities to provide a safe working environment for journalists,” journalist Husein Jamal said.
In a response to a claim made by HRW regarding their lack of access to detention centers, the Ministry of Interior in Gaza said in a statement, “[w]e assure you that our detention centers are open for human rights centers.” The Ministry of Interior also accused HRW of being politically biased, and also for failing to address human rights violations in the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Hamas officials claim to have disciplined hundreds of security service members for abuses since 2007, yet it has yet to publish the details about those who have been punished.
For further information, please see:
Bikya Masr — Gaza Sees Continued Arbitrary Arrests, Torture, Unfair Trials — 3 October 2012
The Guardian — Hamas Accused of Routine Torture of Detainees in Gaza Strip — 3 October 2012
Human Rights Watch — Gaza: Arbitrary Arrests, Torture, Unfair Trials — 3 October 2012
Ma’an News Agency — Hamas Ministry Rejects Torture Allegations — 3 October 2012
Ma’an News Agency — HRW: Hamas Should Urgently Reform Justice System — 3 October 2012
New York Times — Human Rights Watch Report Critical of Hamas Justice System in Gaza — 3 October 2012
