French Judge Investigates Salah Hamouri's Torture Claims
A French judge has opened an investigation into the allegations of torture and arbitrary detention made by Salah Hamouri, a French-Palestinian lawyer. The investigation stems from a complaint filed in Paris, where Hamouri has accused Israel of violating his human rights during his arrest and subsequent deportation. The judge's memorandum, issued on July 17, indicates that the claims of mistreatment are plausible and may constitute criminal violations.
Allegations of Torture and Arbitrary Detention
Salah Hamouri's legal team has detailed numerous instances of harassment and deprivation of rights that he endured at the hands of Israeli authorities. His lawyers assert that he faced arbitrary arrests from 2001 to 2018, culminating in his administrative detention without formal charges in 2022. The conditions of his detention reportedly included deprivation of food and sleep, punitive isolation, and restricted contact with his family, which the lawyers argue could amount to torture.
Impact on Mental Health and International Response
A recent psychiatric evaluation described Hamouri as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to his experiences. Despite the French National Public Prosecutor's Office downplaying the claims of torture, the international community, including the United Nations, has condemned Hamouri's deportation as illegal and a potential war crime. As a human rights defender and lawyer, Hamouri's case has drawn significant attention, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding human rights violations in the region.
