'Release minors from jail'

2003-07-29 13:57

Jerusalem - Palestinian prisoners affairs minister Hisham Abdelrazeq said on Tuesday that 361 Palestinian children were being held in Israeli prisons and demanded their immediate release.

A statement from the minister said that the minors' treatment in jails was "inhuman and cruel", adding that "children should be a priority among those prisoners to be released" and criticizing the fact some are "jailed for long periods of times... without trial".

The treatment contradicts "international treaties signed by Israel," while the statement also called on "the United States, the United Nations and international organizations to pressure Israel for the immediate and unconditional release of all Palestinian children held in Israeli prisons."

Israel is due to free 540 prisoners in the next few weeks to build confidence with Palestinians as both parties seek to implement the US-backed roadmap.

A spokesperson for the ministry of prisoners affairs said "there are children among the 540 to be freed but we do not know how many. Israel has not informed us yet".

According to the international rights organisation Defence for Children International, which handled two-thirds of juvenile cases brought before Israeli courts in 2002-2003, the great majority of children held in Israel are between 15 and 18 years of age. More than nine percent are 13 to 14-year-olds.

- AFX