Testimonies

Mukaram Ahmad, laborer

I'm not trained in any profession and I work as a laborer in Israel to support my family. I manage to enter Israel because there is no separation barrier between 'Azzun 'Atmah and Kafr Kassem.

Three days ago [7 May 2008], I left my house around 7:00 A.M. and walked by myself toward Bayaret a-Sela, which is one kilometer from the Oranit settlement. I wanted to go to Kafr Kassem to look for work. I was walking between olive trees when I suddenly saw a Border Police jeep abut 20 meters from me. I wanted to run away because I was afraid they would beat me. One of the Border Police officers called out to me, in Hebrew, on a megaphone, ordering me to stop. I understand Hebrew pretty well. I stopped, because I was afraid they would shoot me if I ran away.

Four border policemen came over to me. I stood were I was. One of them had a dark-brown complexion and a moderate build. He was the only one wearing a Border Police cap. He looked about 30 years old. They all were armed.

The policeman with the dark-brown skin beat me in the back, stomach, and legs, and kicked me as well. Then the others also hit me all over my body. I shouted out in pain and asked them, in Arabic, to stop beating me. The first policeman told me to go to the jeep, stand by it, raise my hands, and spread my legs. The policemen searched me, beat me, and swore at me in Hebrew. I fell to the ground. The assault lasted for about 15 minutes. Then they got into the jeep and drove off. I called my father and said, “Dad, save me, I'm next to Oranit and I'm about to die.” Then I lost consciousness. I don't remember what happened after that.

Afterwards, my father told me that he had rushed there by car with my young brother, and that they took me to hospital in Qalqiliya. I was unconscious for about half an hour. and woke up at the hospital. My father said we got to the hospital at about 8:30.

At the hospital, they checked my blood pressure and X-rayed me. The doctors said I had bruises and a swollen penis. I left the hospital around 1:00 P.M. I felt horrible.

I filed a complaint with the Palestinian police and informed the Palestinian liaison and coordination office and the Red Cross. This is not the first time that border policemen have assaulted me. In the summer of 1999, at the same place, some policemen broke my hand.

Mukaram Habes Hammad Ahmad, 25, married with three children, is a laborer and a resident of the village of 'Azzun 'Atmah in Qalqiliya District.His testimony was given to Ra'aed Moqdi at the 'Azzun 'Atmah checkpoint on 10 May 2008.