"During the arrest operation, PSA confiscated the confidential legal
files of Palestinian prisoners represented by Mr. Abu Aoun on behalf of
Addameer, as well as his cell phone," the council said. "PSA also seized
further legal files, three computers, a printer and CD-ROMs in a
simultaneous raid on his home."
The statement said Abu Aoun was held for 10 hours and subjected to
inhumane treatment. The council said the attorney, believed to represent
Islamic Jihad detainees, was prevented from contacting his family and made
to stand for one hour with his arms above his head and hands against the
wall.
"The Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organizations is greatly
concerned that Mr. Abu Aoun's arbitrary arrest sets a dangerous precedent in
the increasing harassment of human rights organizations by the PSA and
constitutes a further obstruction to the work of these organizations to
defend Palestinian civil society," the council said.
In mid-January, GIS pledged that the PA would no longer prosecute
civilians in security or military courts. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas,
however, has not confirmed the pledge in a formal decree.
"Although the PSF later apologized to Mr. Abu Aoun and indicated that it
would also extend an apology to Addameer, this has yet to happen," the
statement said.
In another case, a Hamas journalist said he faces trial for insulting
Abbas on his Facebook page. Mamdouh Hamamreh, a staffer at Hamas's Al Quds
television, said he was held for more than 50 days in September after
his Facebook page showed Abbas standing next to an actor in a popular Syrian
soap opera. Hamamreh was scheduled to appear in a PA court in February.
"I censor myself now," Hamamreh said. "I'm careful of what I say."
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