E/CN.4/1992/17
page 43
For example, in addition to the medical findings mentioned above, his claim
that he was interrogated by seven interrogators simultaneously was highly
unlikely. Moreover, owing to the number of policemen who were involved in
different stages of this case, it was impossible to attribute the two bruises
on Jadallah's body to any specific individual. Without such attribution it
was, unfortunately, impossible to initiate criminal proceedings. The
authorities were particularly sensitive to complaints by minors, especially
where there was medical evidence supporting some aspects of the complaint.
Therefore, although no criminal file had been opened against any of the
policemen who arrested or interrogated Jadallah, his complaint file was still
pending additional review.
(b) Regarding the case of Waiid Abu-Surur and the "Runners for Peace"
group (see E/CN.4/1991/17, para. 94), it was stated that on 17 April 1990
stones had been thrown at Israeli soldiers from the Aida refugee camp. The
soldiers entered the camp, arrested one of the stone-throwers, Mustafa Akal,
and later went to Walid Abu-Surur's house to question him about his
participation in the incident and the identity of the stone-throwers. In
order to avoid the outbreak of disturbances in the camp the soldiers asked
Abu-Surur to accompany them. He refused and, at one point, grabbed the coat
of one of the soldiers. The latter, in order to release himself, struck
Abu-Surur with his rifle butt. According to the reply, this was the only
instance in which the soldiers struck Walid Abu-Surur, although he continued
to resist their efforts to take him to the jeep. The soldiers in question had
never previously encountered Mustafa Akal or Walid Abu-Surur and had not even
heard of the group, "Runners for Peace". Their action was in response to the
stone-throwing incident described above.
(c) Regarding the case of Riad Shehabi (see E/CN.4/1991/17, para. 95) it
was stated that his complaint had been thoroughly investigated by the Public
Complaints Unit of the Israel Police and subsequently by the State Attorney's
Office. As a result of this investigation, on 21 March 1991 criminal charges
were filed against First Sergeant Rami Chefetz under section 380 of the Penal
Law (1977) for assault causing bodily harm. The Government added that the
case would be tried in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.
129. On 17 April 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government
of Israel transmitting information alleging cases of torture of Palestinians
in connection with the uprising in the occupied territories. The perpetrators
were said to be members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and agents of the
General Security Services (GSS). The following detailed cases of alleged
torture were reported:
(a) Amal 'Auda Qabna, aged 17, from Jericho, was arrested on 8 May 1990
and allegedly beaten on the head by the arresting officers. She was said to
have suffered repeated headaches from the beating.
(b) Farah Yunis, aged 19, from the Rafah refugee camp, was arrested at
his home on 24 August 1990. At the military headquarters, Faraj was
reportedly subjected to torture by soldiers who beat him, squeezed his
genitals and choked him. He allegedly experienced a nervous breakdown and
hallucinations and attempted suicide at least once.
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