AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Mr. Imad Faisal Sabi, a Palestinian economist, and the Executive Director of Programs at the Bisan Research Center in Ramallah, a Palestinian non-governmental organization that works on community and social development issues, has been in administrative detention since 12 December 1995. Although no formal charges have been brought against him, Israeli officials have reportedly accused Mr. Sabi of involvement in the activities of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and regard him as a "security threat." The real reason for his arrest may be the expression of his opinion that "the Oslo Accords and subsequent agreements are not a basis for a just settlement." Mr. Sabi was initially held under a six month detention order, which was extended for four months upon its expiration. In October 1996 and April 1997, his detention order was again renewed. His latest detention order expires 8 October 1997. However, given the common practice of repeatedly renewing arrest orders for a dministrative detainees in Israel and the Occupied Territories, it is possible that Mr. Sabi will remain in detention beyond his scheduled release date. Mr. Sabi is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for the peaceful expression of his political beliefs.

The extension of Mr. Sabi's detention order precluded him from beginning his fellowship in the M.A. Program in Politics of Alternative Development Strategies at the Institute of Social Studies in The Netherlands, to which he had applied before his arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Mr. Sabi was held in Beit El military camp but was later transferred to Megiddo Prison where he has spent the majority of his detention. On 9 June 1997, he was transferred to Telmond Prison, along with 50 other administrative detainees. Mr. Sabi has filed another petition with the Israeli High Court of Justice requesting that he be released. No date has been set for his court appearance.

Mr. Sabi's arrest and detention for the peaceful expression of his political beliefs constitute serious violations of international human rights standards, including those enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is legally binding on Israel as a State Party. These rights include liberty and security of the person (Article 3 of the UDHR and Article 9 of the ICCPR); freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 3 and 9 of the UDHR and Article 9 of the ICCPR); freedom of expression (Article 19 of the UDHR and Article 19 of the ICCPR).

(Sources of information on this case include the Committee on the International Freedom of Scientists, the American Physical Society, a joint Press Release by Palestinian human rights organizations, distributed by Birzeit University, Amnesty International Report, Administrative Detention: Despair, Uncertainty, and Lack of Due Process (AI Index MDE 15/03/97), and the Mandela Institute)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, faxes, and letters:

• demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Sabi on the grounds that he is a prisoner of conscience; * seeking clarification of Mr. Sabi's legal status, particularly the basis of the accusations brought against him; and
• urging Mr. Sabi's release if he is not charged with a recognizable crime and brought to trial in accordance with international standards of fairness.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan Street
Jerusalem, 91007
ISRAEL
fax: 011 972 3697 7839; 011 972 2664 838
telex: 922 25279 MPRESIL
telegram: Prime Minister, Jerusalem, Israel
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Yaakov Neeman
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
29 Salah al-Din Street
Jerusalem, 91010
ISRAEL
fax: 011 972 2285 438
telegram: Justice Minister, Jerusalem, Israel
Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich
Embassy of Israel
3514 International Dr., NW
Washington, DC 20008

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