Al Mezan condemns the assault on school sports day in Rafah

[oberliner]

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns an attack against a school sports day in Rafah today, Sunday 6 May 2007, in which one man was killed and six other people were injured, including both schoolchildren and a teacher. The Center is gravely concerned as the assault occurred as children were taking part in a sports day at the school. Initial reports indicate that an armed extremist group carried out the attack. Prior to the attack the assailants had protested that the event was mixed.

Al Mezan's fieldworkers reported that UNRWA's Education Department organized a sports day at al Umariya UNRWA School in Rafah. Present at the event were UNRWA's Director of Operations, John Ging, and numerous education staff, parents and community figures from the town. Hundreds of children had also attended. At app. 10am (one hour before the event started) members of an extremist group came at the school and protested against the fact that boys and girls would take part in the activity together and claimed that this was against community values.

The group then threw home-made explosive devices inside the school. One of those hit an UNRWA minibus destroying it. They also started shooting heavily into the school from different directions. The school is located near the Tel As-Sultan police station in the town.

As a result, 28-year-old Sulaiman Ash-Shair, who is a personal guard of PLC member Majid Abu Shamaleh, was killed and six were injured. Among those injured were two 9-year-old and 14-year-old students, a head teacher and parents.

http://www.mezan.org/site_en/press_room/press_detail.php?id=618