Wednesday, August 10, 2011

PA urges international community to protect prisoners' rights

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority on Monday urged the international community to protect the rights of Palestinian prisoners, the government media center said.

The PA referred to two incidents in which prisoners rights were violated. One case involved a decision by Israeli authorities to ban prisoners' families from visiting them for up to 17 years after accusations that they smuggled mobile phones into the jail.

The other involved a recent incident in which 40 Palestinian prisoners suffered food poisoning in an Israeli prison in the Negev.

"These actions are a violation of international law, particularly the Third Geneva Convention, relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War," a statement said, adding that the PA held the Israeli prison administration responsible for the lives and health of prisoners.

The West Bank government urged international institutions, the Red Cross and the United Nations Commission of Human Rights to do more to pressure Israel to stop its daily "illegal and unjustified measures against prisoners."