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Palestinian prisoners plan to escalate protest against solitary confinementby samidoun |
Reprinted from WAFA
- Six Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails who have been
held in solitary confinement have threatened to consider a set of
measures in protest of their isolation, according to the Commission of
Prisoners’ Affairs (CPA).
CPA
attorney Sherine Iraqi told WAFA that the six isolated prisoners, Fares
Saadi, Hassan Abu Khaizaran, Alex Mans, Majed Jumaa, Hussam Omar, and
Mohammad Abu Rabeeaa, threatened to go on a hunger strike in protest of
their unjustified solitary confinement.
The
six prisoners told Iraqi, who was recently allowed to visit them, that
after Israel reneged on its agreement in 2012 to end solitary
confinement of Palestinian political prisoners, the prisoners are
seriously mulling the possibility to embark on various protesting
measures, including going on a hunger strike.
The six prisoners are also deprived of their right to family visitation, in addition to other humanitarian rights.
According
to prisoners' rights group, Solitary confinement is one of several
practices enforced routinely inside of Israeli prisons, in addition to
torture, forcible transfers, and medical negligence.
Adalah,
a Haifa-based human rights group, says that “solitary confinement of
Palestinian political prisoners who are classified as “security
prisoners” is doubly harsh because of the restrictions imposed on their
contacts outside of prison, even when they are not held in isolation.”
Addameer
noted that, “Although rules exist under Israeli and international law
to closely govern the use of solitary confinement and isolation, both
measures are often used impermissibly and at great cost to Palestinian
prisoners and detainees.”
“All
types of solitary confinement in prison should end, given its severe
impact on the physical and psychological health of prisoners,” Adalah
adds.
“Solitary
confinement constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and
punishment and thus violates the International Covenant Against Torture
(CAT) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR). The Israel Medical Association and Ministry of Health should
strongly oppose its use as a method of imprisonment.”
Detainees
in solitary confinement are held in an empty cell containing only a
mattress and a blanket, and rely on the Israeli Prison Service to
address all other needs.
“Other
than their clothes, they are not allowed to take anything with them
into solitary confinement, including reading materials, a television or
radio set. The detainee or prisoner is held in their solitary
confinement cell, which does not contain a toilet, 24 hours a day. When
the detainee or prisoner wishes to use the toilet he or she must call
out for a guard and wait until one agrees to take the prisoner out,”
said Addameer.
To
be noted, “The UN Committee Against Torture has sharply criticized the
prolonged solitary confinement of prisoners, regarding it as an act of
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment (CIDT) that
constitutes a violation of Article 11 of the CAT, which requires States
parties to ensure systemic review of conditions of incarceration,18 and
of Article 16, which obliges states to protect prisoners under their
jurisdiction from CIDT.”
“The
Inter-American Court of Human Rights has also stated that prolonged
solitary confinement constituted a violation of Article 5(2) of the
American Covenant on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and the
inhuman treatment or cruel punishment of prisoners,” stated Adalah.
To be noted, there are 15 Palestinian prisoners currently held in solitary confinement
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