Tuesday 27 January 2009

FAO: Attorney General Mani Mazuz
Fax: +972 (0)2 646 7001

Dear Attorney General,

I am writing to express grave concern over the arrest and detention of Mohammad Abu Humus on Thursday 22 January.

Whilst all the material pertaining to Abu Humus's arrest is classified, information received from the organisations we work with suggests that he is being detained because of his role in organising and participating in peaceful protests against Israel's brutal assault on Gaza. Abu Humus is a Palestinian activist who works with the Alternative Information Centre, and who has helped organise lawful demonstrations in East Jerusalem.

We believe the detention of Abu Humus is part of a wider campaign on the part of Israel to repress the right of Palestinians to protest against the military attacks on Gaza. Since the beginning of the Israeli attacks in December last year, more than 300 Palestinians living in East Jerusalem have been detained and interrogated by Israeli security forces.

War on Want is a charity which believes in human rights for all, including the right to freedom of speech and expression. Palestinians and Israelis have a right to express their opposition to Israeli policies, in particular the military assault on Gaza which has left an estimated 1,300 people dead and thousands more injured, including women and children. We call on the Israeli government to act in accordance with international human rights law and to release Abu Humus and all other Palestinians who have been detained as part of Israel's crackdown on demonstrations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The right of Palestinians to protest peacefully against the attacks on Gaza as well as the Israeli occupation must be respected.

Yours sincerely

John Hilary
Executive Director

cc Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Foreign Secretary
cc Ron Prosser, Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom