Palestinian Security Uses Force to Disperse Peaceful Women’s Rally

Press Release, 23/09/07. PCHR strongly condemns the use of force by Palestinian security forces to disperse a peaceful march organized by dozens wives of political prisoners and female Hamas activists yesterday in Ramallah. The Centre affirms that this is a clear violation of the right to peaceful assembly that is constitutionally protected and guaranteed.

The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that at after noon prayers on Saturday, 22 September 2007, a women’s demonstration composed of tens of wives of political prisoners and female Hamas activists issued from Jamal Abdel Naser Mosque and headed towards El-Manara Square in the center of Ramallah. When the demonstration came close to the square, tens of male and female Palestinian police intercepted the demonstration and formed a human chain in front of the demonstrators. When the demonstrators attempted to move forward, they were pushed back; and the police fired tear gas to disperse them.

Mona Mansour, PLC member from the Change and Reform List, participated in the demonstration. She informed PCHR’s fieldworker that she was dizzy and ill as a result of the tear gas. After returning to her hometown of Nablus, she went to El-Rahma clinic for treatment. She stated that, since mid-June, the security forces have detained approximately 850 people suspected of affiliation with Hamas. About 150 of them remain in custody.

Over the past 3 days, Palestinian security forces have detained 13 Hamas supporters. On 20 September 2007, Palestinian security forces detained Ghassan El-Tanbour (Nablus), Mahmoud Darwish El-Meseimi (Askar refugee camp), Naser Abd El-Latif Dabous (Beit Ebba), Ahmad Salatna (Jenin), Yusef Abu Ras (Hebron), Noah Abd El-Aziz El-Harish (Beitunia), and Hussein Suwwan (Ammatin). And on 21 September, Palestinian security detained Fayyad El-Aghbar (Nablus), Husam El-Qataluni (Nablus), Khaled Ata (Ein Beit El-Ma’ refugee camp), Mohammad Yasir Abu El-Rob (Maseela), Mohammad Yusef Abu El-Rob (Maseela), and Yasir Adeeb Abu El-Rob (Maseela).

In light of these developments, PCHR:

- Strongly condemns the forceful dispersing of the women’s demonstration, including the firing of tear gas and other forms of inhumane treatment.

- Affirm’s people’s full and legitimate right to hold public assemblies and organize demonstrations and peaceful marches as means of protest and expression that are protected by the law and international human rights standards.

- Calls upon the government in Ramallah to immediately investigate these attacks, prosecute the perpetrators, and to take the necessary steps to prevent their recurrence.

- Expresses deep concern over the continued campaign of arrests against Hamas supporters in the West Bank; and calls for stopping this campaign and for respecting the law relevant to arrest and detention operations.