Ref: 41/2016
Date: 23 August 2016
Time: 10:20 GMT
Prisoner Killed by Security Officers in Nablus; PCHR Demands Bringing Those
Accountable to Justice

Palestinian Security officers killed Ahmed 'Ezzat Halawah (50) in al-Jneid
Prison after severely beating him to death. The Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR) expresses deep shock at this crime, considering it as a
serious development from the security services in Nablus. PCHR also
emphasizes that this crime reflects the state of security chaos and
disrespect for law and humanity in an establishment that is supposed to
protect civilians. PCHR also calls upon the Attorney General to seriously
investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice without
delay.

According to PCHR's follow-up, at approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 23 August
2016, a special unit of security services arrested Halawah after surrounding
his house in New Nablus Neighborhood on grounds of being involved in the
killing of two Palestinian security officers in Nablus few days ago. At
approximately 04:00, this unit took Halawah to al-Jneid Prison in Nablus.
According to Akram al-Rojoub, Governor of Nablus, when Halawah arrived at
the prison, he argued with security officers, who then severely beat him to
death despite attempts by other security officers to rescue him.

The security officers claimed that Halawah was behind the killing of the two
security officers in Nablus who were trying to arrest wanted persons on 18
August 2016. On 19 August 2016, the security services killed two civilians
suspected of killing the two security officers during an armed clash.

PCHR closely follows up the serious escalation of the security chaos state
in Nablus. PCHR also emphasizes that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is
responsible for the safety and health of prisoners in prisons and detention
facilities. Thus, the PA should in all cases protect and take care of them
according to Correction and Rehabilitation Centers' Law No. 6/1998.

PCHR stresses that what happened by the security officers constitutes a
crime that cannot be justified in any case regardless of the motives or
alleged crimes brought against the victim.

Additionally, PCHR emphasizes that security officers' resort to revenge is
unlawful and alarmist as it reflects a complete state of law denial, cruelty
and inhumanity characterized by members of an establishment, whose role is
to protect civilians and enforce the rule of law.

PCHR also highlights that the murder of Halawah foreshadows the
deteriorating security situation in the PA, which thus requires everyone to
fulfill its responsibilities. PCHR, therefore, calls upon the Attorney
General to open an investigation into the crime, declare the results in
public and bring perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.

PCHR also calls upon the Prime Minster who also holds the position as the
Minister of Interior to control the performance of the security services and
guarantee they are submissive to the law.

Public Document
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org