Palestinian Authority blocks visits by human rights groups

RAMALLAH [MENL] -- The Palestinian Authority police have barred representatives of human rights groups from visiting prisoners incarcerated in PA police facilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The move follows last week's statement by the PA Justice Minister Freih Abu Medein criticizing non-governmental organizations (ngos) for being "fat cats, a bunch of thieves and a band of foreign agents who are working against the Palestinian national interests."

According to Khadre Shkeirat, a lawyer representing the Gaza-based Al Kanu (LAW) Human Rights Organization, other local human rights groups also received a notification from PA Police Chief Ghazi Al Jabali barring human rights representatives from visiting police-run prisons.

Shkeirat condemned the move saying this new measure was intended to cover up police brutality against detainees.

Human rights groups say there is growing tension between represtentatives of the human rights groups and Al Jabari following accusations by the representatives that Al Jabari personally supervises the routine torture of detainees by the police.

Last month, Ayman Amasi, a detainee from Gaza was reported in critical condition after being in custody. Human rights representatives say Amasi was tortured by Jabali's officers.

Jabali claimed that Amasi tried to commit suicide, but a thorough investigation by human rights organizations revealed that Amasi was tortured by the police.

Iyad Al Sarraj, a prominent human rights activist in the Gaza Strip said that the PA sought to discredit the NGOs for their role "in exposing the many flaws and violations of human rights and the rule of law under the PA."