The High Court of Justice today, 7 March 2007, ordered the General Security Service (GSS) to inform a security prisoner, Mahmoud Abed Elaziz Switi, that his wife is not, and never was, detained, and to have him undergo a psychiatric examination whose results will be given by the end of the week to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI).
Before today’s hearing at the HCJ, the GSS informed Mr. Switi that his father is not, and never was, detained.
Four human rights organizations, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), B’tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Hamoked, the Center for the Defense of the Individual, and Physicians for Human Rights, petitioned the High Court of Justice yesterday demanding that it declare that the method of torture employed by the GSS, which systematically exploits family members, generally innocent young married women and older parents, is illegal and violates the 1999 High court of Justice ruling that prohibits the use of torture in interrogation.
The petition was filed on behalf of a security prisoner, Mahmoud Abed Elaziz Switi, a resident of Hebron, who has been detained since 1 February 2007 and held in incommunicado detention since the time of his arrest. The GSS used a deception ploy during his interrogation in which it dressed his father in detainee clothing and presented him to Mr. Switi as a detainee who is undergoing a harsh interrogation. Mr. Switi’s wife was also shown to him, apparently also while wearing detainee clothing. Following this “charade”, Mr. Switi attempted to commit suicide and began a hunger strike.
The HCJ advised the above human rights organizations to file a complaint to the Attorney General against the use of this interrogation method by the GSS. Attorneys Rachela Er’el and Labib Habib of PCATI stated that the use of psychological pressure in a non-violent fashion, but in a way which brings a detainee to a state of emotional despair which leads him to attempt to kill himself, is contrary to Israeli and International Law.
This form of interrogation is in violation of the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom, and Israel’s international obligations under the International Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
For additional information please contact:
Attorney Labib habib, 972-52-4404477
PCATI Executive Director, Hannah Friedman, 972-2-6429825
PCATI Legal Director, Attorney Eliahu Abram, 972-2-6429825
PCATI Spokesperson, Eyal Hareuveni, 972-2-6429825
