NOVANEWS
PCHR calls upon International Community to Intervene Urgently to Save Life of Administrative Detainee al-Qeeq
Due to the critical deterioration of his health condition, today, 18 February 2016, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the international community represented by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva; the World Health Organization (WHO) and other human rights organization to take urgent steps to pressurize the Nazi authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of administrative detainee and journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq (33).
This appeal comes as a reminder of the two separate complaints filed by PCHR on 08 February 2016 to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention the crime of torture, concerning degrading treatment and arbitrary detention (administrative detention) committed by Nazi forces against al-Qeeq to pressurize the Israeli forces to immediately release him.
On 21 November 2015, Nazi forces arrested al-Qeeq, reporter of al-Majd Saudi Channel, from his house. He experienced tough interrogation, during which he was exposed to torture, including shackling (Shabeh), before being placed under administrative detention. Therefore, al-Qeeq started a hunger strike on 25 November 2015.
According to human rights sources, al-Qeeq is now dying at al-‘Afoulah Hospital, and his health condition is critically deteriorating. On 12 January 2016, Nazi forces force-fed al-Qeeq after he was handcuffed and then forcibly administrated intravenous fluids in a grave violation of al-Qeeq’s crippled will, which amounts to an international crime that requires holding those who ordered and applied it to account. On 04 February 2016, the Nazi Supreme Court issued a decision to suspend the administrative detention against al-Qeeq on condition that he stays at the Zionist hospitals receiving medical treatment and family visits. This is considered a conspiracy between the Nazi Supreme Court and the Gestapo security services. On 16 February 2016, the Supreme Court rejected again a petition filed to release al-Qeeq and transfer him to a hospital in Ramallah.
What the Nazi forces is doing against journalist al-Qeeq, who is a civilian, constitutes a clear violation of the international humanitarian and human rights laws, as this crime amounts to a crime against humanity according to paragraph 1(e-f) of article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Moreover, this crime is a flagrant violation of al-Qeeq’s right to a fair trial, including his right to receive a proper defense and be informed of any charges against him, which is guaranteed in article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This crime also violates the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
PCHR aims via this appeal at drawing the international community’s attention to the 700 administrative detainees, whose lives are in danger due to the Nazi illegal policy of administrative detention against them. Administrative detention comes under the term of political arrest and violates the accused person’s right to a fair trial, proper defense, and being informed with his charges.
