E/CN.4/2000/9 page 127 15 days. It was also reported that, as the security services had no specific place for female detainees, she was forced to share a cell with Israeli criminal detainees. 646. The Government replied on 17 March 1999 that Munah Hassan Awad Barhasin was released from the Kishon Detention Centre on 14 March 1999. The reply did not provide any information on her alleged ill-treatment while in custody. 647. On 12 March 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Hussein Akul, a 17-year-old Lebanese citizen who had reportedly been held at Khiam Detention Centre since 2 September 1997 without charges. He was said to be gradually becoming blind and to have been denied medical treatment. 648. On 26 April 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairman-Rapporteur of the working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Amin Muhammad Ghazi al-Aghbar, a Palestinian who had reportedly been arrested on 16 March 1999 at Allenby Bridge and taken to Jelemeh Prison, also known as Kishon Prison. He was said to be held in incommunicado detention, since 30 March, at a military detention facility, Megiddo Prison. He is reportedly accused of having links with "Hamas", an Islamist movement opposing Israeli rule. 649. The Government replied on 12 July 1999 that the investigation into Amin Muhammad Ghazi al-Aghbar alleged activities within "Hamas" had been completed. It stated that the investigation revealed that he is an active member of "Hamas" and as a result, he was charged with 12 serious offences, including membership of a terrorist organization, holding office in a terrorist organisation, promoting contacts with a foreign (Syrian) terrorist organization, raising funds and harbouring fugitives who belong to a terrorist organization, procuring illegal weapons for the use of a terrorist organization and recruiting new members for a terrorist organization. The Government further replied that, given his medical record, he received close and continuous medical supervision throughout the period of his detention. No comment was made on his detention allegedly being incommunicado. In relation to access to legal representation, the Government replied that it had been assured that he was being duly represented by an attorney of his choice. The Government indicated that he was barred from having access to his attorney on a small number of occasions when the necessities of national security, in accordance with Israeli law, made this imperative. Transmitted with the Government's reply was a September 1998 background paper on "Hamas". 650. On 29 April 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Muhmad Mahmud Hassan Abu Tir, who had reportedly been arrested on 21 September 1998 near Jerusalem. From the time of his arrest until 11 October 1998, he had reportedly been held incommunicado at Jerusalem's Russian Compound. On 27 September 1998, the court reportedly extended his detention for another 30 days, until the time of his indictment. Since then, he had reportedly been transferred to Shikma Detention Centre and moved again to the GSS Interrogation Unit of Jerusalem's Russian Compound, on 11 April 1999. He had reportedly only been allowed to sleep for three hours at a time. He was allegedly forced to sit on a high chair with his wrists tied behind him so tightly, that his wrists were swollen.