TWO weeks after being released from detention for "slandering" the Palestinian National Authority in a New York Times article, the Palestinian Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Eyad Sarraj, was arrested on Sunday and his Gaza office closed, writes Michael Jansen.
Ms Nisreen Zughayyar, spokeswoman for the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen's Rights, told the Irish Times that Dr Sarraj had been "tortured and beaten" and that his physical condition "is very bad".
B'Tselem, an Israeli Palestinian human rights group, also said it had received reports that Dr Sarraj had been mistreated in jail.
"He is being held in a small cell in prison and has had no visit from his lawyer or family. No indictment has been issued and no charges have been laid," Ms Zughayyar said.
This was the third arrest in six months for the London trained psychiatrist, who is director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme.
Reports are being circulated that "illegal substances" were found in his office at the mental health centre. An informed source in Jerusalem was certain that the Palestinian Authority would "attempt to fabricate" evidence of criminal activity so that the doctor could be prosecuted in a criminal court rather than a state security court.
Formed in 1994 by the PLO chairman, Mr Yasser Arafat, as the civil and human rights watchdog in the self rule areas, the commission soon came into conflict with him over the excesses of his security services. During an interview with The Irish Times last year, Dr Sarraj castigated the Authority for "corruption, mismanagement leading to chaos, overcentralised decision making and widespread abuse of human rights", through the "nine internal security services" established by Mr Arafat.
Following the Palestinian presidential and council elections last January, Dr Sarraj released a memorandum critical of the Authority's conduct during the prepoll period. At that time, Mr Arafat's security chiefs were restrained by members of his entourage from arresting Dr Sarraj.