This is a translation of a letter originally written in Hebrew

12.3.2002

To:

Elyakim Rubinstein Attorney Eran Shendar

The Attorney General Director of Department for

Ministry of Justice the Investigation of Police Miscondact

Salah-a-Din Street 29 POB 45208

Jerusalem 91010 Jerusalem 91450

Dear Sirs,

Re: Mahmud Salah, 23 years old, from the village of Beit Wazen in the vicinity of Nablus, shot to death by police officers while bound

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) has received two statements from Palestinian eyewitnesses regarding the killing of Mahmud Salah on Friday, 8.3.2002, by police officers or Special Patrol officers in Beit Hanina, Jerusalem.

PCATI also has information on the above event from the "Yediot Ahronot" newspaper of 11.3.02, the "YNET" website of 11.3.02, and the "Ha'Aretz" newspaper of 12.3.02.

According to all of the above, a Border Police jeep appeared in Beit Hanina in the vicinity of 16:00. Mr. Randi Awadi and Mr. Mahmud Salah came near the jeep and were immediately arrested. Mr. Awadi was taken to an undisclosed location at 16:15.

Mahmud Salah was immediately handcuffed and pushed towards the vehicle of one of the eyewitnesses. Afterwards, Mr. Salah was forcibly pushed to the ground, face down. His hands were handcuffed behind his back the whole time.

While Mr. Salah lay on the ground, an officer stepped on his neck and head. Another officer grasped his legs and another held his legs.

Afterwards, the officers tore his clothing, stripping him down to his shorts.

At approximately 16:30, or sometime soon after, an officer shot around 8-9 shots towards Mahmud Salah's head. He tried to move and rise but was left to bleed to death on the ground.

At approximately 17:15 Mahmud Salah's body stopped moving and it appears that he was dead.

Later on, at approximately 17:20, a police robot was brought to the site and removed a black belt.

One of the above eyewitness stated "The weird thing is that I did not see the this belt when the police officers stripped him of his clothes before he was killed".

According to information which appeared in the "Yediot Ahronot" and "Ha'Aretz"

newspapers, the officers struggled with Salah in order to difuse an explosive belt he allegdly had on him.

According to the above information, after the police bomb disposal expert stated that he could not control Mr. Salah and that there is a danger of immediate detonation of the explosive device, Jerusalem District Police Commander Superintendant Miki Levy ordered that Mr. Salah be immediately killed.

According to eyewitnesses Salah was shot from a distance of 1.5 - 2.0 meters.

The French press agency, AFP, reported that approximately 10-12 Palestinians watched the goings-on from the windows of their homes and told the news agency and the Palestinian human rights organization, LAW, that Mr. Salah was shot to death around half an hour after he was arrested, while both his hands were bound.

In view of the Above, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel demands:

1. That an urgent inquiry be initiated into the above events.

2. That the Palestinians who witnessed the events be summoned to the inquiry.

3. That the police officers and Special Patrol officers involved in the killing of

Mahmud Salah be summoned to the inquiry.

4. That Superintendant Miki Levy, District Commander, by whose orders the

shooting was carried out, be summoned to the investigation.

5. That any police officers found to be guilty of killing Mahmud Salah be brought to

justice.

· · The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel understands the complicated and sensitive security situation and is aware of the workload and pressure placed upon police personnell and the security forces 24 hours a day.

· · However, it is impossible that a man be executed while bound and under detention for more than half an hour by the police and after the explosive belt he allegedly had on him was neutralized.

· · It appears that the police officers' light hand on the trigger brought about the death of Mahmud Salah in violation of all legal and judicial procedures recognized by an enlightened law-abiding society.

· · We must first and foremost respect the right to life of any human being, even in times of war and security tension.

We would be grateful for your immidiate attention to of the above complaint and expect a prompt answer.

Sincerely Yours,

Hannah Friedman

PCATI

Cc:

Minister of Internal Security Uzi Landau

Minister of Justice Meir Shitrit

Chairman of the Knesset state Comptroler’s Committee, MK Amnon Rubinstein

Police Chief Shlomo Ahronishky

Attorney Lea Tsemel

Attorney Shlomo Lecker