Human Rights Education: The 4th R
Get Up, Stand Up! Celebrating 50 years
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
vol. 8, No. 2, Fall 1997.

On 2 July 1997 Fathi Subuh, a lecturer in education at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, was arrested by members of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service. It is believed that he was arrested for including critical questions about the management of Al-Azhar University and the Palestinian Authority in the final examinations at the university. Fathi Subuh is known to be a critic of the way the university is run.

As of 13 October 1997 he remained in detention in Gaza Central Prison. On 6 September, the Palestinian High Court of Justice considered a habeas corpus petition, seeking his release. His lawyer reported that Fathi Subuh had been subjected to severe torture and ill-treatment during his detention at Tel al-Hawa Prison, run by the Preventive Security Service (PSS), in Gaza. He was hung from behind by his hands with his feet off the ground, forced to balance for long periods on his toes, and subjected to beating, sleep deprivation and hooding.

On 6 October the Palestinian High Court of Justice delivered its ruling on the habeas corpus petition. The court declined to order Fathi Subuh’s release on the grounds that the case was outside its jurisdiction, being before the State Security Court. To date, Fathi Subuh’s lawyer has received no information that his client has been charged with any criminal offense in proceedings before the State Security Court. Amnesty International has in the past criticized this court for holding grossly unfair trials which contravene international standards for fair trial.

Fathi Subuh was visited by his lawyer on 9 October. He is in good health.

Please send faxes, telegrams, or express/airmail letters to:

President Yasser Arafat (Salutation: Dear President Arafat)
Palestinian Authority
Al-Muntada
Gaza, Palestinian Authority
Faxes: 011 972??22365 (ask to send a fax)
Telegrams: President Arafat, Palestinian Authority, Gaza

In your letter, include the following:

• note that Fathi Subuh has now been held in detention for more than four months, without charge or trial
• express deep concern at the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Fathi Subuh during his detention in Tel al-Hawa Prison and calling for an investigation into these allegations
• ask what the precise reasons are for Fathi Subuh’s arrest and for his case being brought before the State Security Court
• state that you consider Fathi Subuh to be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his alleged critical attitude towards the Palestinian Authority, and call for his immediate and unconditional release.

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