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Call for the release of two peaceful demonstrators!
Riyad being arrested by Undercover forces
© Private photo

A call for the immediate release of peaceful protestors at Bil`in

Amnesty International
Friday, 20/05/05

http://web.amnesty.org/pages/isr-action-POCs

Riyad Muhammad Yassin Barnat, a 28-year-old construction worker and farmer, father of four, and ‘Alian Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Rahmeh, a 29-year-old school-bus driver, father of two, have been detained by the Israeli army following a peaceful demonstration in their West Bank village of Bil’in on 28 April 2005.

The demonstration was organized by Bil’in villagers and Israeli peace activists to protest at the ongoing construction of the fence/wall, which the Israeli army is building through the West Bank, in violation of international law. The fence/wall cuts the village off from much of its agricultural land, depriving the farmers of their source of livelihood.

Some 500 Palestinian villagers and around 200 Israeli peace activists participated in the demonstration. They informed the Israeli troops present at the scene, through loudspeakers and in Hebrew, that the march was strictly peaceful. But as the demonstrators gathered on the outskirts of the village and began marching in the direction of the fence/wall, Israeli forces shot tear gas at them, pushed and shoved some of them, and fired rock salt projectiles, injuring several of the demonstrators.

Several masked mistaravim (a Hebrew term meaning ‘those who pretend to be Arabs’), undercover agents belonging to the Israeli Prison Service started to behave aggressively and threw stones at the soldiers. When the Palestinian villagers called on them to stop using violence and to leave the demonstration, they revealed their identity, pulled out their weapons, and arrested two Palestinian and four Israeli demonstrators.

The four Israelis were subsequently released and the Israeli army commander promised that Riyad and ‘Alian would be released as soon as the demonstration ended. However, they instead took them to a police station in the nearby Israeli settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev and later transferred them to the detention centre at ‘Ofer military base. They continue to be detained there and are accused of assaulting members of the security forces. To date the army has provided no evidence to substantiate these allegations.

On 19 May 2005, three weeks after their arrest, the military judge ordered the release on bail of Riyad Muhammad Yassin Barnat and ‘Alian Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Rahmeh, but as the military prosecution announced its intention to appeal the judge’s decision, they remain in detention.

According to the information available to Amnesty International, including video footage of the demonstration and testimonies of Israeli and Palestinians peace activists present at the demonstration, the demonstrators did not use violence against the Israeli forces, whereas Israeli members of the security forces did use unwarranted force against the demonstrators.

Amnesty International believes that Riyad Muhammad Yassin Barnat and ‘Alian Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Rahmeh are being detained to discourage others from organizing and participating in peaceful demonstrations. It considers them to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

Take Action

Write to the Israeli authorities and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Riyad Muhammad Yassin and ‘Alian Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Rahmeh.

ADDRESSES

Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister and Minister
of Immigration Absorption
Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan Street
P O Box 187
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91919, Israel
Fax: +972 2 670 5475 or +972-2-566 4838
Telex: 25279 MPRES IL
E-mail: pm_eng@pmo.gov.il

Tzipi Livni
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
29 Salah al-Din Street
Jerusalem 91010, Israel
Fax: +972 2 628 7757
E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il


Menahem Mazuz
Attorney-General/Legal
Advisor to the Government
Ministry of Justice
29 Salah al-Din Street
Jerusalem 91010, Israel
Fax: +972 2 628 5438
+972 2 627 4481

Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit
Chief Military Attorney
6 David Elazar Street
Hakirya
Tel Aviv
Israel
Fax: +972 3 569 4370
E-mail: c/o arbel@mail.idf.il

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