Inhuman Conditions for Palestinian Women Political Prisoners

by Tony Davies

30 January 2004

From Tony (at present in East Jerusalem, having so far failed to get into Gaza):

I have been to Ramle, near Tel Aviv, to visit a young Palestinian woman prisoner whom I have been writing to for two years at the request of a Jewish organization, the Women's Organization for Political Prisoners (WOFPP). So far I have had no reply from her. She has a back injury as the result of one of the beatings she has received in prison. I did not manage to see her, but spoke to a senior prison officer whom I met a year ago and who said then that he would try to arrange for me to visit her. He has now sent me an e-mail saying that I am not allowed to do so. I have received the following from the WOFPP. I do not yet know whether she is amongst the prisoners transferred to Hasharon.

On January 18, 2004, half of the political women prisoners were moved from Neve Tirtza to Hasharon prison. The lawyer Tagrid Jahshan visited them on 21 January and this is her report.

This place is much worse than the previous one and the conditions are unacceptable.