E/CN.4/2000/9 page 121 not return. They were allegedly abducted by the Iraqi Intelligence Service, owing to the fact that Jotiar Yahia Latif al-Salihi's brother, Latif, who is currently living in Europe, is allegedly involved in Iraqi opposition activities. 614. By letter dated 5 October 1999, the Government responded to this urgent appeal by indicating that the family of Jotiar Yahia Latif al-Salihi was transferred from Jordan to Syria since their authorization to remain in Jordan had expired and they had not received official authorization to request an extension. 615. On 2 September 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal on behalf Ahlam Khadom Rammahi, a British citizen, who had reportedly been arrested in Baghdad on 5 August 1999. On 28 July 1999 she travelled from London, where she has resided since 1982, to Iraq to visit her sick mother. On 5 August, two government security men reportedly went to her mother's house in al-Najaf to arrest her. However, she had already left for Baghdad to visit other relatives. The security men are alleged to have arrested her brother, whom they took to Baghdad to show them the way to the relatives' house. Ahlam Khadom Rammahi was arrested by the security men and her brother was then released. No reason was given for her arrest and since that time her whereabouts have remained unknown. 616. By letter dated 14 September 1999, the Government responded to this urgent appeal by indicating that Ahlam Khadom Rammahi had come under the amnesty decreed by the Council of the Revolutionary Command for Iraqis who had left their country illegally and that she had accordingly been released on 7 September 1999. Israel Regular communications and replies received 617. By letter dated 17 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information on the following individual cases. 618. Nidal Ya'qub Diab and Iyad Ya'qub Diab, brothers, were reportedly driving out of Kalandia refugee camp in the West Bank on their way home in two cars on 3 April 1994. As they left the camp, they were allegedly pulled out and severely beaten with rifle butts and fists by soldiers. The brothers were reportedly arrested. In the course of the investigation into their allegations, the office of the Legal Adviser to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) Central Command is said to have only questioned two members of the IDF. They reportedly alleged that they had been "forced to exercise reasonable force" to search the brothers. On the basis of this alleged incomplete investigation, the Legal Adviser to the Central Command is said to have concluded that "the soldiers in question acted properly" and closed the investigation. 619. Nidal Abu-Sroor allegedly died during interrogation as a result of torture on 30 January 1998 in the Al-Maskhobieh interrogation centre in Jerusalem. 620. Ma'ath and Mahmoud Taqatqa, brothers from Beit Fajjar near Bethlehem, were allegedly arrested on 2 June 1999 by Israeli security forces and taken to the Russian Compound Detention Centre (Maskobia). Ma'ath Taqatqa was allegedly held in solitary confinement, hooded with a dirty bag, handcuffed to a small