Human Rights

Palestinian goes on hunger strike

Audrey Gillan 20 January 2003

A Palestinian who had been tortured before his arrival in Britain has gone on hunger strike after having been held for 13 months without charge. Mahmoud Abu Rideh is detained under anti-terrorism provisions. He was transferred from Belmarsh high security prison to Broadmoor high security mental hospital last August under the orders of a judge, because he was seriously mentally ill. Audrey Gillan outlines his situation in The Guardian. 

Universal Jurisdiction in Belgium: The Trial Continues

Michael Young 17 January 2003

“Israelis have scoffed at Prime Minister Ariel Sharon�s war crimes trial in Belgium, but, despite it all, the legal process continues. Indeed, on Tuesday it received a valuable shot in the arm.” The Daily Star’s Michael Young examines the legal and political background of a possible resumption of the war crimes case against Sharon and others in Belgium 

Collective punishment is a war crime

Daoud Kuttab 17 January 2003



The long line at the Qalandia checkpoint last week was one of the first signs of the added collective punishment that the Israeli army was now instructed to impose on the Palestinian population. When my turn finally arrived, I drove up to the soldiers, hoping finally to be allowed into Ramallah. Daoud Kuttab writes from occupied Jerusalem in the Jordan Times. 

Israel closes Palestinian universities

Jamie Tarabay 15 January 2003

Israel today shut down two West Bank universities as two Palestinians were killed in clashes and Israeli troops sealed the homes of four Jerusalem Arabs responsible for killing 35 people, including five Americans, in bombings. In Hebron, the army closed the Islamic University and Polytechnic Institution as part of its response to the Tel Aviv bombing earlier this month in which 22 people were killed. Jamie Tarabay reports for the Associated Press. 

Belgium may revive Sharon war crimes case

Andrew Osborn 17 January 2003

Belgium gave itself the right in 1993 to try cases of war crimes committed by anyone, anywhere at any time. However, legal setbacks to the “universal competence” law have blunted Belgium’s zeal to act as an international war crimes court. Last June a Belgian court appeared to kill off the case against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon when it declared that he could not be tried because he wasn’t physically present in Belgium. That obstacle now appears likely to be dismantled. Andrew Osborn reports from Brussels in The Guardian. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 16 January 2003

This week, Israeli forces and settlers killed twelve Palestinians, including five children and a mentally disabled man. Throughout this week, Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling. Israeli forces continued their arrest campaigns and the strict siege of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is still imposed. 

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