Khader Adnan Mohammad Musa: Israeli Prisoner of Conscience

by Stephen Lendman

In 1948, brute force established Israel. In 1967, militarized occupation of one-fifth of former Palestine followed.

An entire people suffer. Collective punishment is official policy. So are torture, violence, land theft, apartheid, injustice, and other forms of state-sponsored terror.

They include imprisoning Palestinians for wanting to live free on their own land in their own country. As a result, since June 1967, over 750,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned.

Arrests occur regularly. Middle-of-the-night raids terrorize nonviolent men, women and children. Alleged "ticking bomb" ones are held in the name of "security." So are various other type political prisoners. Denied all rights, they're brutalized for praying to the wrong God.

They face torture and horrific prison conditions. International and Israeli laws are spurned.

Doing so constitutes blatant civil/human rights violations. B'Tselem said if Likud (and other) party members were held to the same standard, at least half their members would be administratively detained.

Lawless military tribunal trials follow. Those charged are guilty by accusation. Children fare no better. Some young as six are held for allegedly throwing stones. It's a catchall charge (like many others) to arrest anyone for any reason.

Once in custody, horrific mistreatment follows. Permanent scars remain. Entire families are traumatized. At issue always is who's next, for what reasons, and for how long.

Khader Adnan Mohammad Musa's Ordeal

Khader's one of hundreds of thousands mistreated. On December 17, 2011, at 3:30AM, dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed his home. He was violently seized in front of his children and ailing mother. In the process, face and back injuries occurred.

Blindfolding and painfully shackled, he was placed in a military jeep. Soldiers slapped and kicked him. Abuse continued until arriving at Dutan settlement.

Transfer to Megiddo prison followed. In protest, Khader immediately went on hunger strike. In detention, interrogators insulted and humiliated him. After initially answering general questions, he refused to respond.

Nonetheless, interrogations continued for 10 days, excluding Mondays. On day four, Israeli Prison Service (IPS) authorities isolated him to inflict further punishment. Legal counsel and family visits were denied. So was information on alleged secret evidence.

Interrogations continued daily. Throughout his ordeal, his hands were painfully shackled behind his back. Other ill-treatment followed.

On December 30, he was transferred to Ramleh prison hospital because of deteriorating health. Hunger striking took its toll. Nonetheless, he was isolated and subjected to extreme cold. In addition, cockroaches infested his cell. Air circulation was cut off, and intimidation continued daily.

On January 8, he was administratively detained for four months. Three Israeli military measures authorize them:

• Order Regarding Administrative Detention (the Administrative Detention Order); it's part of military law governing the West Bank;

• Emergency Powers (Detentions) Law for Israel; and

• Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law (the 2002 Unlawful Combatants Law); it's similar to America's practice, violating international law.

Under it, detainees have no rights. Held incommunicado, they're denied counsel, due process, and judicial fairness. They're also tortured and at times disappeared and/or killed.

Prolonged arbitrary detention breaches international law. Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states:

(1) "Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established by law.

(2) Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.

(3) Anyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his detention and order his release if the detention is not lawful."

Fourth Geneva's Article 78 states:

"If the Occupying Power considers it necessary, for imperative reasons of security, to take measures concerning protected persons, it may, at the most, subject them to assigned residence or to internment."

"Decisions regarding such assigned residence or internment shall be made according to a regular procedure to be prescribed by the Occupying Power in accordance with the provisions of the present Convention. This procedure shall include the right of appeal (decided on) with the least possible delay. (If it's upheld), it shall be subject to periodical review...."

Administrative detentions should never substitute for customary criminal proceedings. Moreover, they should only be used to prevent future lawless acts, never abusively, routinely, and illegally.

Denied all rights, Khader has no way to defend himself. Moreover, in Ofer military court, Nahshon police intervention members terrorized him.

In detention, he remains on hunger strike for multiple reasons, including:

• his rights and identity were violated;

• his lawless arrest and abusive detention; and

• Israel's illegal administrative detention system.

It may continue indefinitely. Addameer: Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association calls him "prisoner at risk."

He currently suffers from fatigue and dizziness. He refuses medical treatment. In addition, cameras monitor him constantly.

He endured seven previous detentions, spending years in prison. In 2005, he went on hunger strike for 12 days. At issue was isolation in Kfar Yuna.

On January 17, 2012, Addameer demanded his immediate release. On January 16, his 30th hunger strike day began. He's now endured over six weeks. His health is rapidly deteriorating. He refuses medical treatment until released.

The World Medical Association says:

"after the 42nd day of a hunger strike, it is expected that individuals will begin to lose their hearing and vision, and suffer bleeding in the gums, intestines, and esophagus. The body will gradually stop functioning. After the 45 day, there is a high risk of death due to vascular system collapse and/or cardiac arrest."

Addameer's campaign "aims to highlight cases" requiring "urgent action." Without help, Khader may die.

Addameer urges joining its campaign to stop it by protesting to Israeli authorities, other governments, and organizing a vigil or demonstration in his behalf.

Sustained pressure is needed. It's the only way rogue states notice.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.