Tayseer Khalid calls on international bodies to protect Palestinian prisoners

Tuesday October 23, 2007 14:03 by PNN - 1 of International Middle East Media Center - IMEMC Editorial Group

Tayseer Khalid, member of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), on Tuesday called on the international community to move quickly to protect Palestinian prisoners.

In a statement released to the press, Khalid requested that all relevant bodies put pressure on the Israeli administration to cease and desist in its illegal treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Khalid demanded that the UNHRC and the ICRC take their humanitarian responsibilities seriously, and send a joint fact-finding mission to investigate the violations carried out by the prison administration, violations that are thought to torture, breaking into cells at night, and barring families from visiting their loved ones.

He ended his statement by calling on the international community and the Middle East Quartet to intervene to force Israel to end its policy of mass arrests, to release at-risk prisoners, and to comply with the Fourth Geneva convention on these matters.

Translated by Manar Jibrin

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