Israel/OPT
18.09.03
Urgent Interventions
Israel: incommunicado detention of Mr. Yitzhak Paz and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo
Case ISR 180903
Incommunicado detention/Risk of torture
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, a member of the OMCT network, of the incommunicado detention of two men in Israel.
According to the information received, Mr. Yitzhak Paz of Hebron and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo of Maon were arrested July 17th, 2003 on suspicion of security offences. The following day, Mr. Paz's detention was extended for 6 additional days and Mr. Shvo's detention was extended for an additional 8 days. Also, an order was issued prohibiting the detainees from meeting with their lawyer until July 22nd, 2003. Moreover, the court issued a gag order on any further details regarding this case.
The two men are reportedly being held under very difficult conditions. They are being prevented from sleeping, they are being denied kosher food, and they are suffering severe psychological pressure. As a result, Mr. Paz and Mr. Shvo have begun a hunger strike.
OMCT is gravely concerned for the psychological and physical well-being of Mr. Yiztak Paz and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo due to the conditions of their detention. OMCT reminds the Israeli authorities that the meeting between a prisoner and his lawyer, and his right to be represented by him, is a fundamental right which has statutory value, and is incorporated in International Law. OMCT asks that the order prohibiting the detainees from meeting with counsel be lifted immediately so that they can benefit from a fair legal process.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Israel/Occupied Territories urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Yiztak Paz and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo;
ii. guarantee that the detainees are granted access to legal representation and family visits;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
- Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street, PO Box 187, Kiryat Ben-Gurion, Jerusalem 91919, Israel, Fax: +972 2 6512631/6705475, E-mail: rohm@pmo.gov.il, pm_eng@pmo.gov.il
- Minister of Justice, Yosef Lapid, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem
- 91010, Israel, Fax : +972 2 628 5438, E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il
- Attorney General/Legal Adviser to the Government, Elyakim Rubinstein, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91010, Israel, Fax: +972 2 6285438
- Judge Attorney General, Major General Menachem Finkelstein, Israeli Defence Forces, 6 David Elazar Street, Hakirya, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Fax: +972 3 5694370
- Ambassador Yaakov Levy, Av. de la Paix 1-3, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, E-mail: mission.israel@gva.mfa.gov.il, Fax: +4122 716 05 55
Please also write to the embassies of Israel and Occupied Territories in your respective country.
Geneva, September 18th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Incommunicado detention/Risk of torture
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, a member of the OMCT network, of the incommunicado detention of two men in Israel.
According to the information received, Mr. Yitzhak Paz of Hebron and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo of Maon were arrested July 17th, 2003 on suspicion of security offences. The following day, Mr. Paz's detention was extended for 6 additional days and Mr. Shvo's detention was extended for an additional 8 days. Also, an order was issued prohibiting the detainees from meeting with their lawyer until July 22nd, 2003. Moreover, the court issued a gag order on any further details regarding this case.
The two men are reportedly being held under very difficult conditions. They are being prevented from sleeping, they are being denied kosher food, and they are suffering severe psychological pressure. As a result, Mr. Paz and Mr. Shvo have begun a hunger strike.
OMCT is gravely concerned for the psychological and physical well-being of Mr. Yiztak Paz and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo due to the conditions of their detention. OMCT reminds the Israeli authorities that the meeting between a prisoner and his lawyer, and his right to be represented by him, is a fundamental right which has statutory value, and is incorporated in International Law. OMCT asks that the order prohibiting the detainees from meeting with counsel be lifted immediately so that they can benefit from a fair legal process.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Israel/Occupied Territories urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Yiztak Paz and Mr. Mattityahu Shvo;
ii. guarantee that the detainees are granted access to legal representation and family visits;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
- Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street, PO Box 187, Kiryat Ben-Gurion, Jerusalem 91919, Israel, Fax: +972 2 6512631/6705475, E-mail: rohm@pmo.gov.il, pm_eng@pmo.gov.il
- Minister of Justice, Yosef Lapid, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem
- 91010, Israel, Fax : +972 2 628 5438, E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il
- Attorney General/Legal Adviser to the Government, Elyakim Rubinstein, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91010, Israel, Fax: +972 2 6285438
- Judge Attorney General, Major General Menachem Finkelstein, Israeli Defence Forces, 6 David Elazar Street, Hakirya, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Fax: +972 3 5694370
- Ambassador Yaakov Levy, Av. de la Paix 1-3, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, E-mail: mission.israel@gva.mfa.gov.il, Fax: +4122 716 05 55
Please also write to the embassies of Israel and Occupied Territories in your respective country.
Geneva, September 18th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.