July 26, 2012

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinians detained in Israel's Negev jail say prison guards are cuffing their legs and hands during lawyer visits and when they use the bathroom, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said Thursday.

A PPS lawyer visited several detainees in the Negev jail. Prisoner Hatem Qafisha, who is in administrative detention without charge or trial, told the lawyer the cuffing procedure was new, PPS said in a statement.

Qafisha added that Israeli prison guards were constantly turning off the electricity in the desert prison, so no fans could be used in the oppressive summer heat.

Another prisoner Mosab Fathi from Ramallah, who has been detained without charge since June 2011, said there were 100 prisoners in his section, including African migrants.

"We are fasting for the month of Ramadan and yet the administration of prison hasn’t provided us with the essential materials for cooking we asked for. We only eat what they give us which is very poor and small meals and worst of all we are drinking warm water due to the lack of fridges," Fathi told the lawyer.

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