Document - Palestinian Authority: Health Concern/Legal Concern, Jawid al-Ghussein (m), aged 71, Palestinian businessman.

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 21/001/2002

UA 05/02 Health Concern/Legal Concern 4 January 2002

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY/EGYPT Jawid al-Ghussein (m), aged 71,
Palestinian businessman


Amnesty International is concerned for the health and safety of Jawid al-Ghussein, who was abducted from his hospital bed in Cairo, Egypt on 3 January 2002. He was apparently taken by members of the Palestinian security service to Gaza in the Palestinian Authority, where he had previously been held for several months incommunicado.

During his abduction, two men who said they were members of the Egyptian security service entered Jawid al-Ghussein's hospital room and said they had orders to deport them. His daughter Mona Bauwens checked with the Egyptian authorities who denied that they had given such orders. Then a further 12 men reportedly entered the room and punched Mona Bauwens. They locked her and her mother in the hospital room while they removed Jawid al-Ghussein. Later that day, Jawid al-Ghussein telephoned to say he was in Gaza.

Amnesty International believes he is being held for political reasons, possibly because of his past criticisms of policies of leading members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Jawid al-Ghussein is a Palestinian businessman who was Chairman of the PLO's National Fund for 12 years before leaving his position, apparently because of political differences over the Gulf War. The Palestinian Authority is said to be pursuing him for $6.5million (and interest) which he borrowed, or took to invest, in 1991. However, he denies the accusation and he has never been charged with any offence.

Jawid al-Ghussein was first arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he was living, by UAE security forces. He was then deported without charge or appeal and taken secretly to Gaza on 22 April 2001. In Gaza he was held incommunicado in a Presidential guesthouse. He was not charged with any offense and not allowed access to his lawyer or a judge. His medical condition deteriorated and in October 2001 he was allowed to remain under house arrest with his family in Gaza. On 25 November 2001 he was transferred to hospital in Cairo for treatment of possible cancer of the pancreas. He also suffers from diabetes. The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo refused to give him his passport to enable him to seek medical treatment abroad; Jawid al-Ghussein then approached the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for humanitarian assistance. The UNHCR office in Cairo confirmed that they were seeking to obtain a travel document to enable him to have medical treatment abroad; they had not been contacted about his alleged deportation and were concerned for his case.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals in English or Arabic or your own language:

To the Palestinian Authority
- calling for the immediate release of Jawid al-Ghussein unless he is charged with a recognizable criminal offence and tried in a court which meets international standards for fair trial;
- calling for Jawid al-Ghussein to be given appropriate medical care.

To the Egyptian Authorities
- asking whether the Egyptian authorities authorized the deportation of Jawid al-Ghussein while under medical care;
- asking them to put pressure on the PA to ensure that he receives appropriate medical care and is immediately released if he is not charged with any criminal offence.

APPEALS TO:

President Yasser Arafat
Office of the President
Ramallah
Palestinian Authority
Telegrams: President Arafat, Gaza, Palestinian Authority
Fax: + 972 2 298 6212 (it may be difficult to get through, please keep trying)
Salutation: Dear President Arafat

Freih Abu Middein
Minister of Justice
P O Box 1021
Gaza
Palestinian Authority
Telegrams: Justice Minister, Gaza, Palestinian Authority
Fax: + 972 8 286 7109/197
Salutation: Dear Minister

Brigadier 'Abd al-Rizeq Majayedah
Director of National Security
Gaza
Palestinian Authority
Telegrams: Director of National Security, Gaza, Palestinian Authority
Fax: + 972 8 282 9388
Salutation: Dear Brigadier 'Abd al-Rizeq Majayedah

His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
'Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt
Telegrams: President Mubarak, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail: webmaster@presidency.gov.eg
Fax: + 202 390 1998
Telex: 93794 WAZRA UN
Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency General Habib al-'Adeli
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Al-Sheikh Rihan Street
Bab al-Louk, Cairo, Egypt
Telegram: Minister Interior, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: + 202 579 2031
E-mail: moi@idsc.gov.eg
Salutation: Dear Minister

Mr Ahmed Maher
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Corniche al-Nil
Cairo
EGYPT
Telegram: Foreign Minister, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202 574 9533
E-mail: minexter@idscl.gov.eg
Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

diplomatic representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Egypt accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 February 2002.

Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom