Human rights defender Mr Omar Alaaeddin was arbitrarily arrested by Israeli soldiers on 14 March 2010 and later subjected to torture while in detention. Omar Alaaeddin is a Palestinian human rights defender who organises and participates in demonstrations in the West Bank village of Al Ma'asara in protest against human rights violations allegedly committed by the Israeli authorities and the Israeli armed forces.

Further Information

On 14 March 2010, Omar Alaaeddin was arrested at the Container Checkpoint in the West Bank as he was making his way back home from the theater in Ramallah with a group of students and university professors.

He was beaten by Israeli soldiers at the time of his arrest, and then again later, in the Israeli Russian Compound jail in Jerusalem where he was detained until 22 March 2010. He was reportedly kicked, punched and subjected to electro-shocks with a taser while in detention.

Among other injuries, he received a serious leg injury from the beatings. However, despite the fact that he repeatedly asked to see a doctor, Omar Alaaeddin did not receive any medical attention during his detention. He was questioned in relation to his participation in demonstrations and for allegedly assaulting the soldier who arrested him. According to many eyewitnesses who were at the checkpoint, Omar Alaaeddin did not assault anyone at the time of his arrest.

A week later, on 21 March 2010, Omar Alaaeddin was brought before a judge for the first time since his arrest. This was also the first opportunity Omar Alaaeddin was given to see a lawyer and inform him about the ill-treatment he had received. Following a short hearing, the judge found that there was no evidence linking Omar Alaaeddin to any violence and subsequently ordered for Omar Alaaeddin to be released from detention.

This is the second time this month that one of the organisers of demonstrations in Al Ma'asara has been detained and assaulted at the Container Checkpoint. On 2 March 2010, the mayor of Al Ma'asara, Mr Mahmoud Zwahre, was detained and beaten while on his way to a meeting in Ramallah.

Omar Alaaeddin and his lawyers are currently considering the option of filing both criminal and civil cases in relation to his arbitrary detention and torture in an attempt to challenge the impunity of members of the Israeli armed forces.

Front Line believes that the arbitrary detention and torture of Omar Alaaeddin was directly related to his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities, in particular his involvement in organising and participating in demonstrations in protest against human rights violations.