(PDF version of joint public statement)
LPHR and Addameer have submitted a joint complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning the Israeli military authorities ongoing arbitrary detention since 30 May 2016 of Bara Abudhier, a 26 year old Palestinian man with vulnerabilities stemming from a serious brain injury. Addameer are legally representing Bara during the Israeli military detention and trial process.
Our joint complaint details that Bara Abudhier:
Was arrested by the Israeli border police at the Allenby Border Crossing without an arrest warrant on the 30 May 2016;
Subsequently denied a legal visit from Addameer’s lawyer for 17 days;
Threatened that his life would be made “difficult” and that he would be brought back for interrogations even after his release if he did not confess to the alleged charges;
He cut or attempted to cut his wrists on two different occasions after interrogations;
Gave a forced signed confession after a series of hostile interrogations, including being subjected to a stress position, and was subsequently charged with being a member of an enemy organisation and contacting enemy entities.
His military court trial hearing was set for 28 September 2016 at Salem military court, but it was rescheduled on the day of the hearing to 23 November 2016.
According to his father’s account and medical information provided to LPHR, Bara Abudhier suffered from a brain hemorrhage when he was two years old following an accident. Bara was treated in the UK for this serious head injury that resulted in partial paralysis, and speech and memory loss. Bara was able to recover physically after three years of treatment, but retained some cognitive difficulties. His father says that Bara is solitary and dependent on his family, and that he struggles with comprehending the complexities of situations. Bara has nonetheless been an excellent student, and was due to commence a masters course in 3D animation at Bournemouth University last month.
Addameer and LPHR believe the prohibited torture and ill-treatment that Bara Abudhier has been subjected to during his ongoing arbitrary detention, and which caused him to provide a forced false confession, is completely impermissible. We are deeply concerned by the particularly severe mental suffering that Bara is experiencing due to the infliction of arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, combined with the ongoing effects of his serious brain injury. We call upon the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to urgently investigate Bara’s ongoing arbitrary detention and to urge his immediate release on charges that are based on illegally and unconscionably obtained false evidence.
Contact information:
Tareq Shrourou, LPHR, London |
Sahar Francis, Addameer, Ramallah |
About Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR)
LPHR is a legal charity in the United Kingdom that works on projects to protect and promote Palestinian human rights.
About Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer)
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer) is a Palestinian non-governmental human rights civil institution that focuses on political and civil rights issues in occupied Palestinian territory, especially those of prisoners. Established in Jerusalem in 1992 by a group of activists and human rights advocates, Addameer offers support to Palestinian prisoners and detainees, advocates for the rights of political prisoners, and works to end torture and arbitrary detention and to guarantee fair trials through monitoring, legal procedures and advocacy campaigns.