5-21-08, 9:05 am

PCHR Concerned by Detention of Khan Yunis Governor and Fatah Activists by Gaza Internal Security Apparatus The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is extremely concerned about the detention of Khan Yunis Governor Dr. Osama Abd El-Sattar El-Farra, and three Fatah activists, who were all detained by armed members of the Hamas Internal Security Apparatus on Monday 19 May, 2008.

Testimony by Dr Osama El-Farra indicates that at midnight on Monday, 19 May, gunmen in civilian clothes apprehended Dr El-Farra at his house in the Sheikh Nasser quarter of Khan Yunis. They also apprehended Eyad Nasser, the Khan Yunis Secretary General of Fatah, Salem Abu Salah, the Deputy Secretary General and Dr Nasser Ferwana, the Secretary General of Fatah’s office for physicians in Khan Yunis. The four men were taken to the Internal Security Apparatus compound west of Khan Yunis.

Dr El-Farra stated that he and the other men were all questioned about an event being organized by the National Commission for Civil Society Organizations to honor Khan Yunis Governorate construction workers. Dr El-Farra said they were all accused of incitement, and of inciting others by inviting them to the event. They were all released at approximately 4 am.

The Interior Ministry Information Office subsequently issued a statement, saying, “The Governor of Khan Yunis was summoned on Monday morning as part of an enquiry into an invitation distributed in Khan Yunis. This invitation indicated Fatah was organizing an event in the Khan Yunis Governorate against what it described as a coup in the Gaza Strip.” The Ramallah based National Commission of Palestinian Civil Society Organizations had distributed invitations to the event, entitled, “The First Fatah Event to Honor Workers on the Anniversary of the Nakba after the Bloody Coup.” The invitations stated the event would be held in Khan Yunis Governorate on Monday 19 May, 2008.

· PCHR condemns the detention of Dr Osama El-Farra without consideration for his official capacity, as well as the detention of three Fatah activists. The witness testimony contradicts the Interior Ministry statement that the detainees were summoned the following morning. .

· The Center affirms the full and legitimate right of Palestinians to hold public assemblies, demonstrations, and peaceful marches as forms of expression and protest that are guaranteed by the Basic Law, and international human rights instruments, conditional to the peaceful nature of these activities.

From the Palestinian Center for Human Rights