ICSPR calls for an urgent investigation to reveal the circumstances of the death of a detainee inside Khan Yunis Central Correctional and Rehabilitation Center.
Ref: 34/2022
Date: 04 April 2022
Original language: Arabic
Press release
ICSPR calls for an urgent investigation to reveal the circumstances of the death of a detainee inside Khan Yunis Central Correctional and Rehabilitation Center.
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) followed up on the press announcement issued by the Ministry of Interior yesterday morning, Sunday April 4, regarding the death of the detainee Salem Odeh Abu Tailakh, 50 years, inside the Khan Yunis Correctional and Rehabilitation Center after a sudden deterioration in his health condition, then he was transferred to Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, where the staff tried to revive his heart, then he was declared dead.
According to the available information, Abu Tailakh was arrested on March 28, 2021 on a criminal background, and on July 27, 2021, he was transferred to Khan Yunis Central Correction and Rehabilitation Center. At approximately 8:00 pm on Saturday April 2, 2022, he complained of heartburn, and at about 12:00 midnight, the aforementioned deainee complained of shortness of breath, and at the dawn of the following day, Sunday April 3, Abu Tailakh lost consciousness, the center’s administration, in turn, attempted to rescue the detainee and then transferred him to Nasser Medical Complex, then it turned out that he had passed away. The body was transferred to the forensic department to ascertain the cause of death, where according to the statements of his family and relatives, he had not previously complained of any diseases.
ICSPR views the incident of the death of Abu Tailakh with great seriousness, as it stresses that the safety and lives of detainees is an integral part of the responsibilities and duties of law enforcement officials, in accordance with the text of Article (7) of Law No. (6) of 1998 regarding correctional and rehabilitation centres. Therefore:
• ICSPR calls on the Public Prosecution to investigate the circumstances of the death of the aforementioned detainee, and to publicly announce the results.
• ICSPR stresses the need for the Public Prosecution, judges, and those assigned to monitor detention centers and prisons, to carry out their responsibilities, including ensuring the proper conditions of arrest and detention.
