Saturday, May 5, 2012

Amnesty: Palestinian hunger-strikers 'in danger'

Maan News Agency
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Two Palestinian hunger strikers' lives are in danger, as Israel delays ruling on the appeal against their detention without charge or trial, Amnesty International warned Friday.

A petition on behalf of Bilal Diab, 27, and Thaer Halahla, 33, to the Israeli high court against their administrative detention was heard on Thursday, but the court has yet to issue a decision.

Both have been on hunger strike since February, and have told their lawyers that they have been ill-treated by Israel Prison Service. Diab's lawyer reported that he is shackled to his hospital bed at all times.

"Restraining a seriously ill prisoner to his bed for non-medical reasons amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," Amnesty said in a statement urging action on the cases.

The statement also said Hassan Safadi, Omar Abu Shalal, Jaaafar Izz al-Din, and Mahmoud al-Sarsak, remain at Ramle prison clinic and have not been allowed to see independent doctors.

Amnesty International urged its supporters to contact Israeli authorities and demand that the six prisoners be released or promptly charged with internationally recognizable offenses.

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