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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

Date:	11 August 2000
Case Number:	pa9915
Victim:	Abdulsittar Qassem
Country:	Palestinian Authority
Subject:	Dr. Abdulsittar Qassem Released
Issues:	Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; Freedom of opinion and expression; Right to liberty and security of the person
Type of alert:	Update
Related alerts:	9 December 1999; 29 December 1999

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Dr. Abdulsittar Qassem, Professor of Political Science at An Najah University, (alternate spellings include Abd al-Sattar Qassem and Abdul Sattar Qasem) was released unconditionally from Nablus prison on 28 July 2000.

Dr. Qassem was first arrested on 28 November 1999, along with several other academics, in retaliation for signing a petition criticizing the Palestinian Authority and alleging corruption in the government. The other detainees have been released. (See AAASHRAN PA9915, 12/29/99)

Dr. Qassem and Dr. Ahmad Shaker Doobeen, a school teacher from Hebron, were released from prison on 6 January 2000. Each was required to sign a document stating that he promised to appear in court, if requested, and to pay 50,000 Jordanian dinars (about $75,000 US dollars) if he failed to appear.

The Palestinian Authority arrested Dr. Qassem again on 18 February 2000 and held him in Nablus prison without charge or trial. An order for his release was issued by the Palestinian High Court on 6 July 2000. He was released on 28 July 2000.

(Sources of Information for this case include: Amnesty International)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

No action is requested at this time. Many thanks to those who sent appeals.

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