RAMALLAH, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), A human rights report has warned that withholding basic information about Palestinian prisoners deprives detainees and their families of fundamental rights and obstructs medical care, legal appeals, evidence preservation and accountability.
The report, issued by Tadamon organization on the International Day for Universal Access to Information on 28 September, said access to information about detainees is not merely an administrative procedure, but a key safeguard against arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment and death in custody.
Tadamon explained that withheld or delayed information may include the detainee’s location, the authority holding them, the legal basis for detention, their judicial status, health condition and transfers between detention centers or medical facilities.
The report warned that the absence of information about a prisoner’s location or legal status limits the ability of families and lawyers to follow up on the case and challenge the detention. It added that withholding medical information can delay life-saving care.
The danger becomes even greater in cases of death in custody, where information about the circumstances of death, investigation findings, medical causes, injuries, the location of the body and procedures for returning it to the family is essential to uncover the truth.
Tadamon stressed that announcing a detainee’s death does not cancel the family’s right to know what happened. It called for documented information on where and how the death occurred, who provided medical care, the results of examinations and investigations, and the location and handover procedures of the body.
The report urged authorities to ensure proper registration of detainees, their locations and legal status, provide necessary medical information, notify families immediately in cases of death, and preserve relevant evidence and records.
Tadamon said the right to know the fate of detainees is part of protecting human dignity and ensuring access to justice, especially in cases of disappearance or death in custody.
