Amnesty Int’l calls on PA to investigate abduction of of French media worker/Public statement – Amnesty Int’l. press release/Non-UN document

Public Statement

AI Index: MDE 21/012/2005 (Public)
News Service No: 229
22 August 2005 

Palestinian Authority: Investigate abductions by Palestinian gunmen and bring those responsible to justice

Amnesty International calls on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to promptly carry out an independent investigation into the abduction of French-Algerian national, Mohammed al-Ouati, who has just been released after he was kidnapped by Palestinian gunmen and held captive on 14 August and held for nine days.

Mohammed al-Ouati, a sound technician of the France 3 TV station, was abducted by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza on 14 August. He was the latest victim of abduction by Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip. While all those kidnapped in recent weeks were released unharmed within hours, al-Ouati was held in captivity for nine days. There are no reports at this stage that he was ill-treated and it is not known which group was responsible for his abduction.

Amnesty International also calls on the Palestinian Authority to also investigate all other abductions of foreign nationals and Palestinians by Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.