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Follow Us on TwitterHunger strikers’ situation pending 27Jun12 June 27, 2012
Alternative Information Centre - 26 June 2012
The renewal of Hassan Safadi’s administrative order of detention has been followed by a mobilization of human rights organization and a new hunger strike implemented by the prisoner. This case is questioning the situation of the other hunger strikers who ended their protest the 14th of May.
The agreement between the prisoner’s hunger striker committee and the Prison Service administration was breached on Thursday 21st with the renewal of Safadi’s administrative order of detention for six month, whereas he was supposed to be released the 29th of June. This arrangement was concerning 300 administrative prisoners and enacted that their administrative order of detention will not be renewed in absence of additional proof. It resulted in the end of the previous hunger strike carried out during between 54 and 77 days by 5 prisoners.
Out of these 5 prisoners who were in a long-term hunger strike, Thaer Halahleh was the only one to be released at the end of his term of detention, on the 5th of June, and the release of Jaafar Azzedine on the 20th of July has been confirmed by the High Court. But further violations of the agreement can be expected, considering that about 60 out of the 300 prisoners concerned by the agreement have seen their order of detention renewed, according to Addameer. The remnant long-term hunger strike prisoners have to wait until the expiration of their detention order in August to see if they would be released.
The different forms of action against the violation of these decisions seem to be reduced. Hassan Safadi demonstrates his determination for his rights to be respected by resuming hunger strike the same day of the renewal of his administrative order of detention, making his health a major cause for concern and facing possible punishments applied to hunger strikers. For the other prisoners, Addameer continues its policy of advocacy looking forward the decision concerning their release. Furthermore any legal action based on the agreement cannot be contemplated because the copy of the written agreement, contracted with the mediation of Egypt, is not available. Aware of this issue Amnesty International has launched an appeal to pressure Israeli authorities, in particular to improve the medical facilities which are not provided in the Hadarim prison where Hassan Safadi is still held.
Considering the risk of other breaches to the agreement, there is therefore no guarantee for the three others long-term hunger strikers to be released when their order of detention expires.
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