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Anti-Torture Group Censures Israel's Conduct With Palestinian Juvenile
CAIRO, Feb 6 (IslamOnline) - The World Organization against Torture criticized on Tuesday the arrest and torture of a 15-year-old Palestinian Muslim girl at the hands of Israeli soldiers over the past two years.
In a press release obtained by IslamOnline in Cairo, the Geneva-based group said Su'ad Hilmi Ghazal was arrested on December 13, 1998, after being accused by a female Israeli settler from Shavei Shomron that Su'ad had tried to stab her.
The Palestinian girl was taken to Ramle prison where she was held incommunicado for 27 days, 17 of which were reportedly in solitary confinement, the group said.
In spite of an appeal circulated by World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) Su'ad was sentenced to six and half years in prison with three years of probation for the charge of stabbing an "illegal settler".
OMCT said that the sentence was "not proportionate compared to other sentences passed on similar cases," and that "the young age of the perpetrator, her detention in solitary confinement and detention without trial for two years were not taken into account by the Israeli court."
OMCT is the last of an array of human rights groups that has condemned Israeli atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
These condemnations, however, have had little effect on the ground as Israel has stepped up the use of force against Palestinians excessively after the latest Intifada, or uprising, against occupation broke out on September 28th after a visit by Ariel Sharon, the projected winner in Israeli prime ministerial elections February 6th.
The group, which enjoys wide respect for its anti-torture activities, said it wanted to clarify its position "in view of the conflict …in the occupied territories."
OMCT said Israel excessively condemned Su'ad "against the fact that she was held in solitary confinement and not tried for two years, and against the fact that the court did not seem to take any measure with regards to these aspects of her detention."
OMCT is the largest international coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fighting against torture, executions, forced disappearances and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
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