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Palestinian
Captives’ Treatment During Interrogation... The Health Effect
| Wagdy A. Sawahel, Ph.D.
EurBiol. |
25/2/2002
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According
to the Israeli human right organization, B’Tselem, statistics show that more
than 850 Palestinian detainees are subjected to torture annually. The following
are some of the known methods of physical and psychological interrogation:
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Isolation
The
isolation of anybody in cold, rotting and narrow cells for a long period of time
is a form of pressure that may force the prisoner to admit what he has or has
not done or what he knows. This method does not use direct physical pain and
suffering.
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Shackling of legs and hands
The
shackling of any captive is a basic procedure not only during the arrest
process, but also during detention in a closed cell.
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Covering the head with a filthy sac the investigator treads on them using his
feet, or using pressure from his shoulders. This form of torture continues for
the entire session of the investigation.
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Violent shaking
The
interrogator takes hold of the prisoner by the collar and violently shakes him
for over a minute. This practice of shaking the prisoner is perhaps the most
difficult and dangerous one of all and causes most prisoners to fall
unconscious. In order to bring the prisoner to, the investigators may beat the
unconscious prisoner or pour cold water on him until he regains consciousness,
upon which they continue with the investigation.
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Sleep deprivation
In
general, investigators deprive prisoners from sleep for four to five days at a
time, until he cannot talk at all. They then let them sleep for a maximum of two
to three hours whereupon they wake and in their clothes. After the clothes begin
to smell, they are placed in front of the air conditioner to dry them off. In
addition, they push the prisoner’s head into the toilet bowl and flush the
toilet.
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very loud music
Health
effects…. From physical to psychological pain
To
torture a person in order to get him to confess to a crime he did not commit or
say something he does not wish to say shows that the person is not dealt with as
a human being but rather as a means to arrive to and desired end. Torture is a
severe assault on human dignity and on the individual’s humanity. It does not
serve any purpose inherent to an investigation. Instead, it is degrading and
infringes upon an individual’s human dignity.
Most
prisoners suffer from wounds and swellings in their hands and leg and suffer
breathing problems.
Palestinian
Detainees…. An International Concern
The
prohibition of torture and ill treatment appear in every document, agreement,
and decision of international organizations dealings with this subject, and
decisions of international courts unequivocally support this absolute
prohibition. Torture is treated, like slavery, genocide, and war crimes, as
unjustifiable at all times and in all circumstances. The prohibition applies to
methods of interrogation that intentionally cause physical or mental pain or
suffering in order to obtain information or a confession.
For
example the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which took effect on 26 June 1987, repeats
the definition and the general prohibitions of 1975 declaration “No state may
permit or tolerate February 9, 2000.
Sources:
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Hockstader,
Lee. “Reports Of Torture By Israelis Emerge.” Washington Post. August
18, 2001.
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Kirby,
Emma. “UN Warns Israel Over Torture Reports.” BBC. November 23, 2001.
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Marwan,
Khalil. “Torturing Palestinians To Death A Way Of Life In The Only
Democracy In The Middle East.”
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