The complaint was written by PCATI attorney Samah Elkhatib-Ayoub.

Mr. Hotri, a 23 year old resident of Kalkilya, was artrested on 17.10.2007 at his home by the army and brought to the Kishon Detention Center. On 6.11.07, during a hearing at the Kishon Military Court on the extension of his detention, Mr. Hotri told the Judge, Lieutenant-Colonel Arieh Avriel, that he underwent severe torture during his interrogation including extended painful handcuffing of both hands and that as a result his hands became paralyzed and hanged in an unnatural position. The judge ordered that he be taken for a medical examination and that the interrogation be terminated immediately.

On 7 November 2007, Mr. Hotri was examined by the detention facility doctor who immediately sent him to the Rambam hospital in Haifa for a neurological examination. The tests conducted by the hospital apparently confirm Mr. Hotri’s complaints regarding weakness in both hands resulting from “extended pressure”. The detainee is scheduled for an additional neurological test (EMG) on 29.11.07.

It must be emphasized that, until his arrest, Mr. Hotri was healthy and suffered from no medical problem whatsoever. PCATI demands that the Attorney General immediately order a criminal investigation by the Police Investigation Unit (Mahash) of the interrogators involved and that the interrogators be brought to justice if it is revealed that there are grounds to Mr. Hotri’s complaint.

For additional details please call:

Attorney Samah Elkhatib-Ayoub: 972-2-6429825, 972-52-8213134

Attorney Eliahu Abram, PCATI’s Legal Director: 972-2-6429825, 972-50-5641324

Hannah Friedman, PCATI’s Executive Director: 972-2-6429825, 972-52-556442