Hamas threatens human rights commission

From PCHR:

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its concern regarding statements made by the Government in Gaza against the Independent Commission of Human Rights.

In a workshop it organized in Gaza City on Tuesday evening, 11 August 2009, the Commission called for its lawyers to be allowed to visit detainees held by the Internal Security Service and to reveal the places of their detention. The Commission called also for the immediate release of political prisoners and to compensate and rehabilitate victims of torture.

In response, the Ministry of Interior in Gaza issued a press statement on the same day considering the Commission's positions as non-neutral, and accusing it of dual treatment with regard to cases in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Ministry also considered the Commission's position as a political security escalation rather than a legal one.

In the same context, the Ministry of Information in Gaza issued a press release on Wednesday, 12 August 2009, rejecting the Commission's "accusations" and demanding that the Commission withdraw "such accusations. It also demanded that the Ministry of Interior take legal action against the Commission. The press release also stated that the Ministry should consider boycotting the Commission "because it has proven on several occasions that it is not independent and not neutral in many situations." The Ministry demanded the Commission "move back to the right legal work" and warned it and others of "moving away from the legal methodology in dealing with the Palestinian situation," which implies a threat to all human rights organizations.

Even though that commission was created by Arafat, it criticizes the PA as well.