GENEVA, July 18, 2022 — Palestinian interior minister and former intelligence commander Ziad Hab al-Reeh, long-time chief of the Preventive Security agency that last year beat critic Nizar Banat to death, will head a senior delegation of 17 officials from Ramallah at tomorrow’s United Nations review of the Palestinian Authority record on eradicating torture.
“President Abbas is showing his contempt for the UN committee by sending the long-time head of an agency notorious for torturing detainees with threats of violence, solitary confinement, beatings, including lashing and whipping of the feet of detainees, forcing detainees into painful stress positions for prolonged periods, including using cables or ropes to hoist up arms behind the back,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based human rights organization UN Watch.
The UN Committee Against Torture, a panel of 10 independent experts, will meet tomorrow and Wednesday to consider Palestinian compliance with the UN convention against torture and other cruel forms of punishment.
Today, Mr. Neuer and other UN Watch representatives will meet with the UN committee to present its major new report documenting how the Palestinian Authority and Hamas routinely torture human rights activists, women, LGBT persons, political opponents, so-called “collaborators,” and Palestinians who sell land to Jews. Click here for press release
According to documents filed by the PA with the UN Committee Against Torture and published on their website, the Palestinian delegation will include:
Head of Delegation:
• General ZIYAD M. M. HAB al-REEH
Minister of Interior, headed Palestinian Authority’s internal intelligence agency, Preventive Security, since 2006
Deputy Head of Delegation:
• Amb. AMMAR M. B. HIJAZI
Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
• Amb. Dr. OMAR A. H. AWDALA
Assistant Minister for United Nations and Specialized Agencies Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Members of Delegation:
• GEN. MOHAMMAD M. M. JIBRINI
Assistant Minister for Security Affairs Ministry of Interior
• Judge AHMED M. M. WALADALI
Secretary General High Judicial Council
• BG JEHAD A. A. NAIRAT
General Director
Correctional and Rehabilitation Centers
• ARWA A. M. RIMAWI
Director of Legal Affairs Department Ministry of Health
• NAEL A. H. MOUSA
Director of Legal Affairs Department Ministry of Social Development
• MAJDI M. F. AL-HARDAN
Head of Human Rights Unit
Ministry of Justice
• NAJWA A. A. ABDALLAH
Head of Human Rights Unit Public Prosecution
• HAITHAM S. I. ARAR
Head of Human Rights Unit Ministry of Interior
• BG RAED T. M. AMAYRA
Deputy Director
Security Forces Judicial Authority
• Duaa Nofal
Head of Treaty Bodies Unit
Permanent Mission of the State of Palestine to the UN Office at Geneva
• AMJED MOWAFAQ FUAD ABU LAFI
Legal Consultant
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
• HASHEM HARBI HASHEM OTHMAN
Advisor
Ministry of Interior
• Amb. Ibrahim Khraihshi
Permanent Representative, Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to UN in Geneva
• Dima Asfour
Counsellor, Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to UN in Geneva
