Center for the Defence of the Individual - Torture sanctioned by Law: the Knesset approved the law on force feeding of hunger striking security inmates
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חזרה לעמוד הקודם
30.07.2015

Torture sanctioned by Law: the Knesset approved the law on force feeding of hunger striking security inmates

On July 30, 2015, the Knesset plenum passed the law allowing to force feed administrative detainees and prisoners who are protesting through hunger strike – this, despite the campaign mounted by Israeli human rights organizations, and after it was suspended by the previous government. 46 Knesset members voted in favour of the law, and 40 voted against it.

A day before the vote, nine human rights organizations – including HaMoked – issued a joint call to the members of Knesset, urging them to oppose the law. The organizations stressed that the law was immoral and medically unethical. They explained that contrary to the claims presented in the bill, force feeding is not intended to preserve the prisoners’ health but to subdue them and break their spirit. Furthermore, the law authorizes a procedure considered to be torture, in blatant violation of international conventions and declarations, which Israel has signed and must uphold.

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