ICHR demands release of prisoners in PA jails

The Independent Commission for Human Rights says it is concerned about the lives of prisoners who are on hunger strike in a detention center of the general intelligence in Bethlehem. The commission visited the center this week to check up on the detainees after several announced a hunger strike as they have not been released despite court decisions. The commission said in a statement that it was following up on the cases and noted that refusing to release a detainee in contradiction to a court decision is a crime according to Palestinian law. Article 106 affirms that "Refraining from or obstructing the implementation of a judicial ruling in any manner whatsoever shall be considered a crime carrying a penalty of imprisonment or dismissal from position if the accused individual is a public official or assigned to public service." The independent commission said it considered the detentions of Palestinians held despite court rulings as "arbitrary" and in violation of international conventions for the protection of human rights. It called on the PA to be responsible and to release all such detainees.