In pictures: The occupation releases three children after detaining and interrogating them for several hours
The occupation police released on Thursday late night three children from Silwan after detaining and interrogating them on charges of throwing stones at a settler in Silwan. Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that one of the settlers’ guards arrested the three children while they were near the neighborhood of “Ein Silwan” in Silwan. They are: 10-year old Ahmad Izz Shweiki, 11-year old Mazen Shweiki and the 13-year old Odai Nidal Rajabi. The guard called the police who came and arrested the children and transferred them to Salah Eddin Street police center. The families were informed of the arrest incident after receiving a phone call from friends who were also present in the area. They immediately headed to Salah Eddin Street police station to check on their kids but were prevented from entering and were ordered to stay away from the police center. The Center pointed out that the police detained the children and interrogated them without the presence of a companion or a lawyer. Four hours later, they allowed their parents to come inside the interrogation room when the interrogation was over. Threatening the children not to see their parents The children explained-after they were released- that one settler blocked their way in Al-Ein Street and prevented them from moving under the pretext of throwing stones. Despite denying, he told them they have been recorded while throwing stones and threatened them to transfer them to “Social Affairs Centers” and prevent them from seeing their parents. Interrogation…threatening and mocking the children The children added that the police was called and they were transferred to Salah Eddin Street police center where they were interrogated without the presence of a lawyer or companion. The interrogator yelled at them to force them to make a confession and they were prevented from drinking and using the restroom for several hours; only the youngest child was allowed to drink water. The interrogator attempted to provoke the children by laughing and mocking them and telling them that they have a video of them throwing stones in the area. The children said: “We asked to see the video but they refused. They also asked us many questions while we were in the police car and made us sign the interrogation report which was in Hebrew.” Offering the child Ahmad Shweiki a cigarette According to the child Ahmad Shweiki, the interrogator offered him to smoke a cigarette during the interrogation but he refused. The center added that after the children were interrogated, two of them (Shweiki) were released without conditions while the third (Rajabi) was released after signing a third-party bail. Arresting 20 minors since the beginning of June The Information Center explained that the occupation authorities arrested 20 minors since the beginning of June and called two children for interrogation who are 12 and 14 years old. The center’s lawyer confirmed that the occupation authorities violated the "Israeli law" in the way of arresting, investigating and detaining the children. The law prohibits interrogating children before informed the social worker and after taking legal advice from a lawyer in addition to the presence of a special investigator to interrogate the children and the interrogation should be recorded. The lawyer added that according to the “Israeli law”, the child’s family should be immediately informed if their child gets arrested and they should be given a copy of warrant of arrest and should be informed where the child is detained. He continued: “According to article 9 of the Israeli Juvenile law, any minor under the age of 14 should only be interrogated between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. and any minor between the ages of 14 and 18 should only be interrogated between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. while children under the age of 12 should not be arrested under any circumstances.” The same article 9 notes that any minor suspect should be called for interrogation with the presence of any of his parents, and articles 9 and 3 explain that the interrogator should immediately inform the social worker when deciding to arrest any minor. The centers confirmed in its report that the Israeli authorities change the exceptions in the law and make them rules in terms of arrests, interrogation and detention.
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