Israel should stop mistreating Palestinian children
26 March 2013, 18:00 PM
UPDATED
26 March 2013, 22:01 PM
Mobarak Ali, RK Mission Road, Gopibagh, Dhaka
Photo: AFP
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says in a recent report that 700 Palestinian children (most of whom are boys), aged between 12 and 17, are arrested, interrogated and detained by the Israeli military, police and security agents every year in the occupied West Bank. UNICEF identified some examples of practices that amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention against Torture.
The UNICEF report also says that ill-treatment of Palestinian minors typically begins with the arrest itself. It is often carried out in the middle of the night by heavily armed soldiers and continues all the way through prosecution and sentencing.
Children suffered physical violence and threats during their interrogation, were coerced into confession and not given immediate access to a lawyer or family during questioning.
It is a matter of concern that the pattern of ill-treatment includes the practice of blindfolding children and tying their hands with plastic ties, physical and verbal abuse during transfer to an interrogation site, including the use of painful restraints. It is more frustrating that such practice, as it is reported, appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalised.
We urge Israel to stop this misconduct immediately.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments