Palestine

UN experts demanded release of Palestinian prisoners as soon as possible

UN experts highlight discriminatory treatment towards Palestinian prisoners amid coronavirus outbreak, and the demanded the release of the prisoners as soon as possible.

A group of UN human rights experts on Friday called on Israel’s regime not to discriminate against thousands of vulnerable Palestinian prisoners facing high-risk exposure to the coronavirus.

According to Anadolu, Women, children, older persons and those with pre-existing medical conditions are among the most vulnerable, according to experts.

“There are currently more than 4,520 Palestinian prisoners, including 183 children, 43 women and 700 detainees with pre-existing medical conditions in Israeli jails,” they noted.

“They remain dangerously vulnerable in the context of the current pandemic and the relative increase in the number of transmission rates in Israel,” the UN experts said.

They also expressed serious concerns over reports that Israeli authorities are impeding efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 in East Jerusalem.

The United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard also in her tweet said Israel must release all Palestinian prisoners in a vulnerable situation, including 183 children, 43 women and 700 detainees with pre-existing medical conditions

While condemning the discriminating act of Israeli regime the UN experts said: “This indicates discriminatory treatment towards Palestinians prisoners – which would be a violation of international law,”

“Israel should be taking steps to release those facing arbitrary measures as well as vulnerable groups in its prisons to reduce overcrowding and ensure the minimum conditions to prevent the spread of the virus,” they added.

The experts noted that family visits had been banned since the COVID-19 outbreak and access to lawyers restricted for Palestinian detainees.

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