Birzeit University Right To Education Campaign Urgent Appeals Letter to the International Bar Association requesting intervention in the case of Omar Qassis Philip Leech , PAS student at Birzeit University, and volunteer with R2E in the summer of 2007, 12 July 2008 Dear Ms. Paterson, I am writing to you regarding the case of Omar Qassis. The International Bar Association has a global reputation for being a strong defender of individual civil and human rights. It is my hope that you will appreciate the need for your intervention in Omar's case. Omar is a student at the University of Birzeit near Ramallah in the Occupied West Bank. He is in his final year of a sociology degree and was in the process of revising for his examinations when in the early hours of the 27th of March, 2008, Omar was arrested at his family home by the Israeli Defence Forces. I first met Omar in the summer of 2007, when I took part in Birzeit University's Palestinian and Arabic Studies Programme (PAS) for International Students. Omar was the chief volunteer for the PAS programme. He helped organise introductory and educational events for a group of about 40 students from all over the globe. Omar was particularly helpful to me when, in his own time and without payment, he assisted me in my research for my dissertation for my Master's Degree in Peace Studies. Omar facilitated and translated a number of interviews for me with young Palestinians, and the discussions we had were very important for me in order to gain a better understanding of life under the Israeli occupation. It would not be an exaggeration to say that had it not been for the kindness of Omar and the people he introduced me to, I would have not achieved a distinction in my studies. Since being taken into custody Omar was transported across territorial borders from the West Bank to Mascobia Detention Centre in West Jerusalem (contravening Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention), and was denied access to his family or to legal council. In the following weeks Omar's detention was extended a number of times and his access to legal counsel was systematically impeded. On May 1st Omar was formally placed under administrative detention and charged with throwing stones some time between 2001 and 2002. The charges do not make reference to any specific occasion, which, therefore, makes it impossible to defend against them. The charges also treat Omar as an adult, despite the fact he would have been 16 during the period of the alleged offences. Omar managed to contact the Right to Education Campaign at Birzeit University on 17th of May, 2008. His full statement is available on the Right to Education Campaign's website. However, with the Campaign's permission I have included a short extract here: "I saw soldiers beating other inmates and fear that I could be next. I'm also very disoriented, I hear sounds of dogs barking and people screaming at night. I think these are recordings but they affect me... I have no idea how long I will be in prison. I have no idea what they are doing or claiming. All I know is that I'm not a threat to security but I was still being questioned about all sorts of things, so anything and everything is going through their heads. I basically just want to know when I can see my family again." Omar has since been moved to a prison in the Negev, inside Israel. His family have again been denied visitation rights. Omar's case has not been to trial and neither he nor his lawyer has been shown evidence. Rather, his incarceration is based on secret evidence from the Israeli General Security Services which is shown to the military judge. The law provides that he may be held for a period up to 6 months, on a renewable basis (in violation of Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights). Omar is due to be released on the 31st of July, 2008, whereupon he will return to his studies at Birzeit University. However, experience of similar cases has shown that renewal of a detention order can take place even at the last minute. Omar is my friend, and even if he were to have a case to answer he has not been given the chance to do so in a fair trial. He has suffered medical ailments since his arrest and is under a great deal of psychological stress. Further, there are ten students registered at Birzeit University currently being held under Administrative Detention. Please consider whether the International Bar Association can become involved in Omar's case, and potentially review the use of Administrative Detention as one of human rights and rule of law, which are areas of your concern - the current student detainees should be charged or released, and transparent and fair mechanisms should be in place for any system of incarceration, providing Palestinians with a chance to respond to allegations, and security concerns should also be transparent so as not to become an effusive and useless term, used to punish Palestinians arbitrarily. Detainees should also not be subjected to any torture or deprived of the rights to see their family and legal counsel. For further details please contact Birzeit University's Right to Education Campaign: Public Relations Office Birzeit University P.O. Box 14, Birzeit West Bank, Palestine Telefax: + 972-2-298-2059 E-mail: right2edu@birzeit.edu Yours sincerely, Philip Leech BA (Hons), MA Post Script: Similar letters outlining Omar's Case and requesting help/involvement have been sent to other organisations and individuals who may also be in a position to help.