Palestinian prisoner commits suicide in Israeli prison
Mr. Sami Assad from Eksal village, represented by Adalah, committed suicide today in Kishon prison. Mr. Assad and his brother had been detained since 27 April 2000. Adalah’s attorneys had alerted the Court, during hearings on the extension of Mr. Assad’s arrest, that he suffered from severe mental illness, and that he had attempted to commit suicide in the past. Nevertheless, the Court ordered no special “suicide watch,” or other protective measure to ensure Mr. Assad’s safety.
Upon the arrest and detention of Mr. Assad and his brother, the Magistrate Court in Nazareth issued a “gag order” in the case, refusing any publication of the arrest or any details surrounding their imprisonment, and prohibiting the brothers from meeting with their attorneys from Adalah. Mr. Hassan Jabareen and Mr. Jamil Dakwar, Adalah lawyers representing Mr. Assad and his brother, were given no information as to why they had been arrested and detained or the circumstances of the arrests, nor were they permitted to meet the two men whom they represented. Adalah filed appeals to the District Court challenging these “incommunicado” conditions of arrest, the denial of their right to counsel, the brothers’ detention without bond, and the extension of detention orders. Later, Adalah filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to lift the ban on the brothers from meeting with their attorneys. Shortly before the Supreme Court hearing, Adalah’s attorneys were permitted to meet with Mr. Assad and his brother for the first time.
During initial hearings, Mr. Jabareen and Mr. Dakwar alerted the Court as to Mr. Assad’s mental illness and introduced evidence that he had attempted suicide in the past. The Magistrate Court hearing protocols clearly document the warnings put forward by Adalah’s attorneys. Nevertheless, the Magistrate Court ordered that Mr. Assad undergo a psychiatric evaluation, solely to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. However, at this time, Mr. Assad was prohibited from meeting with his lawyers, and the General Security Services (GSS) continued to interrogate him.
During later hearings held to extend Mr. Assad’s detention, Adalah’s lawyers showed clearly through cross-examination that Mr. Assad was mentally ill and was a danger to himself. They also introduced evidence that Mr. Assad’s driving license had been revoked in the past because of his mental illness. Adalah’s attorneys asked the Court and the GSS to verify this information and to release him. However, the Court did not consider this evidence, and the GSS officers did not verify the information.
After holding Mr. Assad and his brother for over one month without charge, the State Prosecutor indicted them on the charges of belonging to a hostile organization, carrying illegal weapons, and illegally entering a military camp. Following the filing of the indictment, Advocate Riad Anis of Umm al-Fahm, took over the legal representation of Mr. Assad from Adalah, and requested a thorough psychiatric evaluation. The GSS sent Mr. Assad to Sha’ar Menashi, a mental institution, which after a short time, determined solely that Mr. Assad was fit to stand trial.
Immediately following Mr. Assad’s suicide, Advocate Riad Anis filed a request for an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
