PCHR Press Release |
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Ref: 83/2008
Date: 18 September 2008
Time: 11:00 GMT
PCHR Calls for Investigation into the Death of a Palestinian Following Abduction by Unknown Militants
PCHR strongly condemns murdering Ra’ed Mohammed Ibrahim al-Harazin, 32, from Deir Gaza City, following his abduction by unknown militants. PCHR calls upon concerned authorities to investigate this crime, which is part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons prevailing throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:00 on Monday, 15 September 2008, a number of masked gunmen who stepped down from 2 civilian vehicles (a grey GMC and a while Land Rover) kidnapped Raed al-Harazin, who used to be a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, from his house in al-Mansoura Street in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City and took him to an unknown destination. An hour and a half later, his family was informed that he was in an area close to the house. Members of the family went to the area where they found him in a crtical condition. They took him to al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City.
According to the hospitals medical report, al-Harazin was admitted into the hospital when he was suffering from multiple fractures throughout the body, and he entered in a coma 10 hours later. As his health condition deteriorated, a decision was taken to transfer him to an Israeli hospital, but he died at Erez crossing at approximately 16:00 on Wednesday, 17 September 2008.
According to the Forensic Medicine Department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, signs of torture on a large portion of the victims body; bruises; cuts to the head; and red painting on the face, chest and abdomen, which strongly indicates that he was subjected to severe physical violence during his abduction.
PCHR strongly condemns this crime, and:
1) Calls upon the Attorney-General to investigate this hideous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
2) Points out that al-Harazins abduction and killing is part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing the OPT.