Denmark: Appointment of Israeli war criminal to ambassadorial post
Carmi Gillon, former head of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet), arrives in Denmark and is confirmed as Israel's Ambassador to Denmark.
We continue to join efforts to protest against the confirmation of an Israeli war criminal as Israel's Ambassador to Denmark.
Al Haq has reported, that in his recent memoirs, Gillon admitted to giving directives that led to the torture of at least 320 Palestinian suspects who were held in detention by the Shin Bet. It is believed that one person died during an interrogation that was authorized by Gillon. Until September 1999, the General Security Service systematically tortured Palestinians during interrogations.
The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims 'urge the Danish Government to comply without delay with its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and other relevant norms of international law, and to remind the Danish Government that it has the legal obligation, as a State Party to the Convention against Torture, to investigate Mr. Gillon for his role in grave violations of this Convention, and, if there is a sufficient case against him, to indict him for his crimes’.
The BBC reports that 'the Danish Government, despite making guarded comments that Mr Gilon should perhaps give up his appointment, has made it clear that he enjoys diplomatic immunity and cannot be tried in Denmark even if grounds were found.'
The BBC reports that 'the Danish Government, despite making guarded comments that Mr Gilon should perhaps give up his appointment, has made it clear that he enjoys diplomatic immunity and cannot be tried in Denmark even if grounds were found.'
Carmi Gillon, former head of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet), has taken up the post of Israeli Ambassador to Denmark. In his recent memoirs, Gillon admitted to giving directives that led to the torture of at least 320 Palestinian suspects who were held in detention
by the Shin Bet. It is believed that one person died during an interrogation
that was authorized by Gillon. Until September 1999, the General Security
Service systematically tortured Palestinians during interrogations.
In a recent interview to the Danish media Gillon stated that Israel may have to re-introduce "moderate physical pressure (torture) on Palestinian prisoners in order to extract information." Gillon was also quoted as saying "You must understand that the method was used only against Islamic Fundamentalists who refused to volunteer information especially on suicide bombers." Gillon went on to portray his actions, and torture in Israel generally, as a defence of an open and democratic society against a "sea of piranhas" (Arabs). However, Palestinian detainees were tortured without regard for their political affiliations. Under international human rights and international humanitarian laws there is no allowance made for derogations from the prohibition on torture.
These practices are widely condemned by the international community. Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that, "Grave breaches to which the preceding articles relates shall be... torture or inhuman treatment...". Grave breaches of the Convention are similar in principle to war crimes and entail individual criminal responsibility for an international crime. Article 146 of the Convention places a clear legal obligation on the State signatories to the Convention to seek out and try those responsible for grave breaches. Those individuals involved in the planning, instigation, ordering or directly committing grave breaches are individually responsible for the crime.
In a recent interview to the Danish media Gillon stated that Israel may have to re-introduce "moderate physical pressure (torture) on Palestinian prisoners in order to extract information." Gillon was also quoted as saying "You must understand that the method was used only against Islamic Fundamentalists who refused to volunteer information especially on suicide bombers." Gillon went on to portray his actions, and torture in Israel generally, as a defence of an open and democratic society against a "sea of piranhas" (Arabs). However, Palestinian detainees were tortured without regard for their political affiliations. Under international human rights and international humanitarian laws there is no allowance made for derogations from the prohibition on torture.
These practices are widely condemned by the international community. Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that, "Grave breaches to which the preceding articles relates shall be... torture or inhuman treatment...". Grave breaches of the Convention are similar in principle to war crimes and entail individual criminal responsibility for an international crime. Article 146 of the Convention places a clear legal obligation on the State signatories to the Convention to seek out and try those responsible for grave breaches. Those individuals involved in the planning, instigation, ordering or directly committing grave breaches are individually responsible for the crime.
Source:
The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
Posted by:
irct@irct.org
Created by:
The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
