FREE THE JERICHO SIX
Conditions of Detention
Palestinian human rights organizations are gravely concerned about the conditions in which the six Palestinian political prisoners are being held. The prison, located in Jericho, is under the supervision of US and British forces. At the time of the transfer of the detainees, media reports indicated that this supervision was led by the former head of the notorious Maze Prison in Northern Ireland.
Amongst other violations, four of the detainees do not have any telephone access either to receive or make calls except in emergencies. All correspondence and communication is opened and read by the prison administration. All visitors must be approved by the prison administration. The sentenced detainees have no access to books, newspapers, writing materials or other recreational items.
Below is a copy of the "Operational Procedures" for the prison as drafted by the US and British and agreed to by the Palestinian Authority. It should be stressed that two of the detainees, Ahmed Sa'adat and Fuad Shubeiki have not faced trial or been charged with any offence. These two are referred to as the "untried detainees" in the document below.
Operational Procedures for Palestinian Authority in respect of the four sentenced detainees and the two untried detainees in the designated PA prison in Jericho
It has been agreed at the highest political level that the six detainees (Ahmed Sa'adat, 'Iyad Gholmi, Majdi Rimawi, Basil al-Asmar, Hamdi Qur'an and Fuad Shubaki) will be held secluded continuously in custody at the designated prison in Jericho. The Palestinian Authority (PA) will be responsible for the direct custody of these detainees.
This document makes provisions for both tried and untried detainees.
A team of UK and US monitors will have unrestricted access to all parts of the prison at all times. They will be accompanied by their own interpreters. These monitors will verify the fact that these six detainees are in continuous custody and that they are held under the appropriate conditions, which are described below.
The monitors will have unrestricted access to the nominated person in charge of the prison at all times. They will draw any matter of concern to his immediate attention and ask that any breach of procedure shall be rectified. If they are not satisfied that this has been done, they will draw the matter to the immediate attention of the UK and US Consuls General, who will arrange for the matter to be discussed with the PA.
The detainees will be located in secure accommodation which has been agreed between the PA and the monitoring team.
The four sentenced detainees will be located in one unit and the two untried detainees in another. The two groups of detainees will have no direct contact with each other.
The detainees will not have any contact with any other. They will not have contact with any persons apart from staff without prior agreement between the PA prison authority and the monitoring team.
The detainees will be held continuously in their cell units. The entry gates to each unit will be locked at all times.
They will only leave the cell units:
- For the agreed periods of daily exercise.
- For visits with immediate family members or legal representatives whose names have been submitted to and approved by the PA prison authorities in advance.
- For other exceptional reasons, such as medical treatment, which have been agreed in advance.
Prison staff will not enter the cell areas between 22:00 and 06:00
Visits for all detainees will be held in a secure room which has been approved by the monitors for this use.
All detainees will submit to the PA prison authorities a list of all people from whom they wish to have visits. Each person on the list will have to be approved by the monitors.
All visits will take place within the sight and hearing of PA prison staff. The monitors have the right to be present at any visit with their own interpreter.
The frequency of visits will be according to the prison regulations of the PA prison authority.
A record will be kept of all visits.
All incoming and outgoing correspondence will be read by staff.
A record will be kept of all correspondence.
Sentenced detainees will not have access to telephones other than is provided for in para.19 and 20.
Detainees will not be allowed to receive incoming telephone calls except in cases of immediate personal emergency. Monitors will be advised of all such calls before the detainee is called to receive them.
An untried detainee is permitted to make outgoing telephone calls subject to him submitting the names and telephone numbers of those he will be contacting and to the recording and monitoring of those calls.
Mobile telephones are not permitted.
The PA prison authority will provide the monitors with the names and photographs of all staff members and with staffing rotas.
The PA prison authority will provide the monitors with the names if prison staff 48 hours in advance of their rota.
Access to the area in which detainees are held will be restricted to those staff on duty or who have direct responsibility for the care and custody of detainees.
The PA prison authority will provide the monitors in advance with the name of every officer in charge for every 24 hour period.
The PA prison authority will inform the detainees of the number of staff to be present whenever detainees are out of their cells.
The PA prison authority will check the security of the locks, bars and bolts of all prison living accommodation each day.
Every item which is sent into or out of the prison by a detainee will be thoroughly checked by staff.
The living accommodation of all detainees will be thoroughly searched weekly by prison staff and at other times at the request of the officer in charge of the monitors.
There will be a register containing personal details of all detainees, including any time they leave or enter the prison.
There will be a register of all visitors to detainees.
There will be a register of all correspondence to and from detainees.
There will be a register of all telephone calls relating to detainees.
There will be a register of all complaints made by detainees.
There will be a register of all request made for medical attention.
Untried detainees shall at their own expense or that of their friends or family be allowed to be visited and treated by their own medical advisors.
Subject to the good order and security of the prison, untried detainees may have their food procured at their own expense or that of their families and friends from the outside.
Subject to the good order and security of the prison, untried detainees shall be allowed to procure at their own expense of their families or friends books, newspapers, periodicals, writing materials and other means of occupation.
Monitors
Accommodation
Daily Regime
Visits
Correspondence
Telephone Calls
Staffing
Security checks of the Prison Administration
Searching Procedures
Registers
Medical
Food
Newspapers and Other Materials