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Activist dies after arrest by security forces UN envoy calls for investigation Activist beaten repeatedly in the head, his family says Banat accused the Palestinian Authority of corruption
HEBRON, West Bank, June 24 (Reuters) – A Palestinian activist who died in the custody of President Mahmoud Abbas’s security forces on Thursday was beaten in the head, a Palestinian rights group said after performing an autopsy , adding that the injuries indicated “death.”
The family of Nizar Banat, a well-known Palestinian Authority critic of Abbas, said PA forces broke into his home in Hebron in the occupied West Bank overnight and beat him several times. times with a metal rod before stopping it.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority could not be reached immediately to comment on the autopsy findings of the Palestinian Authority’s Independent Human Rights Commission (ICHR). The Palestinian Authority had previously declined to comment on the circumstances of Banat’s death.
Previously, hundreds of angry Palestinians marched towards Abbas’ presidential compound in Ramallah to demand his resignation following Banat’s death, prompting calls from the United Nations, the US State Department and the United Nations. European Union to a transparent investigation.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, appointed by Abbas, ordered the formation of a committee to investigate Banat’s death which he said would include the PA’s ICHR.
But in a sign of public distrust of the PA investigation, the ICHR said it would conduct its own investigation. The ICHR performed an autopsy with permission from the family and announced its initial findings Thursday evening.
“The autopsy showed wounds represented by bruises and abrasions in many areas of the body, including the head, neck, shoulders, chest, back, and upper and lower limbs, with binding marks on wrists and rib fractures, ”ICHR said.
“The preliminary autopsy results also indicate (…) unnatural death, but determining the main cause of death, from a clinical point of view, requires waiting for laboratory results from samples of fabrics, “he added in a statement.
Palestinians resumed their protests in central Ramallah later Thursday. Some clashed with security forces who fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them.
‘NO ANOMALY’
Banat, 43, was a social activist who accused Abbas ‘Palestinian Authority of corruption, including over a short-lived COVID-19 vaccine swap with Israel this month and Abbas’ postponement of a long delayed election in May. The Banat had registered as a parliamentary candidate for this competition.
Abbas regularly arrests his critics, say human rights groups, and has ruled the Palestinian Authority by decree for more than a decade.
“The crushing death of activist Nizar al-Banat shortly after his arrest by the PA is not an anomaly. For years, PA security forces have systematically arbitrarily arrested, mistreated and tortured critics and dissidents, ”said Omar Shakir of Human Rights Watch.
The Palestinian Authority rejects accusations that it is corrupt and that it arrests people for their political views. He also denies the torture.
Hebron Governor Bakri said in a statement that Banat’s arrest was on the order of the Palestinian Authority’s attorney general.
Banat’s family told Reuters that PA security forces broke into their home in the middle of the night, dragged Banat out of bed and started beating him.
“They hit him on the head with iron bars, which they had used to open the windows,” Banat’s cousin Hussein, 21, said. “They beat him continuously for eight minutes. If you came to arrest him, take him away. Why this brutality?
‘SHOCKED’
The US State Department said Washington was deeply troubled by Banat’s death and called on the Palestinian Authority to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation.
“We are very concerned about the Palestinian Authority’s restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression by Palestinians and the harassment of activists and civil society organizations,” said the spokesperson for the department. Ned Price state in a press release.
United Nations Middle East Peace Envoy Tor Wennesland said on Twitter he was alarmed and saddened by the death, and also called for a transparent investigation.
The European Union delegation to the Palestinians said on Twitter it was shocked and saddened, adding that a “full, independent and transparent investigation should be carried out immediately.”
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited autonomy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which is home to 3.1 million Palestinians.
On Monday, Banat, who had 100,000 Facebook followers, condemned PA officials as mercenaries over the COVID-19 vaccine swap deal, which the PA quickly canceled.
Banat planned to run for the Palestinian parliament on May 22. Abbas annulled that election, citing Israeli control over Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Opponents say Abbas called off the vote to avoid losing to the Islamists, which he denies. Read more
Reporting by Ali Sawafta Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi Editing by Peter Graff
Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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