Addameer, Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association I/OPT

Since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967 more than 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel; approximately 40% of the total male population. A Palestinian detainee can be interrogated for a total period of 180 days, during which s/he can also be denied lawyer visits for a period of 60 days. The use of practices that constitute torture during interrogation have been legalized within the Israeli judicial system.

Addameer (Arabic for 'conscience') works for Palestinian detainees and their families.

• it provides free legal advice and representation;
• conducts regular visits to Palestinian prisoners to ensure basic living conditions are adequate;
• documents statistics and violations suffered;
• issues press releases detailing the status of detainee rights and orchestrates international campaigns opposing torture and arbitrary detention.

How Poverty and
Hope can help

£20 the weekly cost of
providing a prisoner and their family
support and activities - including regular
phone calls. £1000 Prisoner and family
support provision and activities per year

Waleed Hanatsha was arrested by Israeli authorities and placed in 'administrative detention' in May 2002. Following an Addameer campaign he was released forty-three months and two days later, having never been charged with a crime. He is now slowly rebuilding his life, with the help of wife Bayan, and daughter Mays, eight

'There was no court case, and my detention was based on a top secret file which no-one was allowed to see - not even my lawyer… The Addameer campaign is part of the reason I was released. Also, the Israeli authorities couldn't keep making up excuses to keep me in prison."

In March 2005 there were over 750 administrative detainees, held without charge or trial for indefinite periods of time. Administrative detention is indefinitely renewable under military regulations. It is based on secret evidence brought forward during military tribunals, to which neither the detainee nor his/her lawyer have access.

Addameer's support for Palestinian prisoners; advocating for the rights of political prisoners, and working to end torture through monitoring, legal procedures and solidarity campaigns is a long and often unrewarding procedure; but as many of those Addameer helps start volunteering for them on their release it means there is an ever expanding network of support and information.

For further Information about
Christian Aid's work, please contact:

Christian Aid
143a The High Street
Lewes, East Sussex
BN7 1XT

01273 470504
info@christian-aid.org
www.christianaid.org.uk