Calls for Abbas to mediate in release of 13 Palestinian refugees in Thailand

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas seen at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council on February 27, 2017 [Mustafa Yalçın / Anadolu Agency]

Some 13 Palestinians detained in Thailand asked President Mahmoud Abbas to mediate to secure their release.

Those detained include

Majed Melhem, 75, his three daughters Muntaha Melhem, Maha Melhem and Nihad Melhem, Kanaan Melhem, Muhammad Abu Harb, Sultan Ahmed, Ayham Younis, Mohammed Azima, Muhannad Yassin, Omar Saleh, Ahmed Al-Nawajha, and Shadi Al-Nawajha.

The Working Group for Palestinian Syrians revealed today that dozens of Palestinians and Syrians jailed in Thailand live in extremely poor conditions. The detainees are held in immigration detention centres (IDC) that house refugees or residents whose visas or residency permits have expired.

“The IDC prison has the worst service facilities. Food is of poor quality, prison guards bar migrants from going out for air, and the inmates complain of overcrowding,” said the group quoting one of the Palestinians who were detained there.

Reports say at least 27 Palestinians were killed in Syria in February alone. Nine of the victims were killed in Daraa, six in Damascus’ countryside, five in Damascus itself, four in Aleppo and three in other places.

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