IS: Palestinian Authority--Re-arrest of Human Rights Activist in

[Faruq abd ul-Rafi]

June 11, 1996--In a letter sent today to Palestinian Authority President Yasir
Arafat, Human Rights Watch/Middle East, an independent, U.S.-based human
rights organization, protested the third arrest, without charge, of human
rights activist Dr. Eyad Serraj in the Gaza Strip. The group raised concern
that the Palestinian Authority's arrest and detention of its critics "casts
serious doubt on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to fundamental human
rights, including the right to free expression." The text of the letter
follows.

***
Human Rights Watch/Middle East
Human Rights Watch is a nongovernmental organization established in 1978 to
monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights
in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and among the signatories of
the Helsinki accords. It is supported by contributions from private
individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds,
directly or indirectly. Kenneth Roth is the executive director and Robert L.
Bernstein is the chair.

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June 11, 1996

President Yasir Arafat
Palestinian Authority
Gaza City, Gaza District

via fax: 972.7.822.366

Your Excellency:

It is most unfortunate that we are compelled to write to you again,
concerning yet another arrest of Dr. Eyad Sarraj, on June 10, 1996, by the
Palestinian Authority. This is the third arrest in six months of Dr. Sarraj,
a well-known human rights activist who serves as Commissioner General of the
Palestine Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights (PICCR) and director of
the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. Dr. Sarraj was last arrested on May
18, 1996, and held for eight days.

Once again, no charges have been brought against Dr. Sarraj, although
his office and that of his secretary have been searched and sealed by the
Palestinian Authority's security forces. Attorney General Khaled al-Qidra has
stated that Dr. Sarraj's arrest "is not related to his human rights
activities, the work of his association or his freedom of expression." In the
past, Dr. Sarraj has been detained, without charge, following criticism of
human rights violations by the Palestinian Authority, and subsequently
released.

Despite the outburst of criticism and concern following Dr. Sarraj's
last arrest, the Palestinian Authority appears intent on pursuing a policy of
arrest and detention of its critics, aimed at punishing, intimidating and
silencing those who express dissent. Such actions cast serious doubt on the
Palestinian Authority's commitment to fundamental human rights, including the
right to free expression. Human Rights Watch requests that you make public
the basis for Dr. Sarraj's arrest, and the reason for the failure to bring
charges against him. Unless recognizable charges are brought against Dr.
Sarraj, we call upon the Palestinian Authority to release him immediately. We
thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you as soon
as possible with regard to this matter.

Sincerely,
Christopher George
Executive Director
Human Rights Watch/Middle East

cc: Freih abu Medein, Minister of Justice
Khaled al-Qidra, Attorney General