On March 10, the State Security Court in Gaza issued...

On March 10, the State Security Court in Gaza issued a death sentence against 24-year-old Subhi 'Attar in a trial which is said to have lasted for 10 minutes. In the same case, the court also handed down prison sentences to Mohammed Abu Shammala and Ussama Abu Taha, both 25 years old. The trial arose from incidents on February 1, 1999, leading to the death of Preventive Security Service member Rifaat Juddah. The defendants had no lawyer of choice but were represented by 5 court-appointed lawyers, who are all members of the Civilian Police. The decision unleashed two days of bloody riots. Two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead in clashes with police and at least 85 people were hurt. Protesters and rights groups said the men, all members of the Palestinian Security Service and former militants in the Islamic group Hamas, were denied a fair trial. They have urged Arafat to stay the execution