Palestinian justice formally accused Monday (September 6) 14 members of the Palestinian security forces for the death of Nizar Banat, an activist and critic of President Mahmoud Abbas who died in June shortly after his arrest.
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Present during the arrest and detention of Nizar Banat, these 14 people were accused of "
beatings resulting in death, abuse of power and violation of security instructions
", announced the spokesman of the Palestinian security services, Talal Dweikat. .
Several traces of beatings before his death
Originally from the Hebron region in the southern occupied West Bank, Nizar Banat was best known for his videos posted on social networks criticizing the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, whom he accused of corruption.
Nizar Banat was arrested at dawn on June 24 at his uncle's home in Dura, near Hebron, and then taken into detention, where his health deteriorated rapidly, according to local authorities.
The forensic doctor in charge of his autopsy had reported signs of blows to the head, chest, neck, legs and hands.
Less than an hour passed between the blows and his death, he said in June.
The investigation transferred to a military tribunal
Since his death, demonstrations have frequently been organized in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, under the cries of "
Abbas clears
" and "
Justice for Nizar
".
Faced with the dispute, the Palestinian Authority had formed a committee, led by the Ministry of Justice, to investigate this death.
In a statement, Talal Dweikat said that the investigation had been transferred to a military court which will have the task of conducting the trial.
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Asked by AFP, Nizar Banat's brother Ghassan said the family "
rejected
" the decision of the Palestinian justice.
“
We believe she is using the 14 members of the security forces as a scapegoat.
These soldiers and officers did not come to arrest Nizar and kill him on their own, they received an order.
And the fact that they all remained silent from the first moment proves that the authorities have promised to defend them,
”he added.
The family of Nizar Banat, who accuses the Palestinian Authority of having "
assassinated
" what officials deny, had already taken the British justice system "
on the basis of universal jurisdiction
"
at the
end of July
and requested the assistance of the UN to investigate this sensitive matter.