Jerusalem24 – Wake Up Palestine – It has been two months since the killing of Palestinian political activist Nizar Banat at the hands of Palestinian security forces, and we are still seeing protests against the murder as well as calls for elections. You’d think the Palestinian police would have learned after the several scandalous attacks against protesters and activists that allegedly include sexual harassment of female protesters, the physical assault of Protesters and journalists in front of the police station in al-Bireh back in early July. Yet police brutality is still an issue that needs to be discussed.
The media spokesman for the police, Colonel Louay Irzeigat, stated that what happened yesterday was a call from the movements to gather in the center of Ramallah, and there was no official permit and permission from the official authorities to hold the gathering, and members of the movement refused to sign the conditions for the gathering. The independent commission for Human rights stated in its own press statement that the protesters did submit a notification for the protest. According to lawyer Majed Arouri, there is no legal requirement to sign on conditions when submitting a permit for a protest. In the case that there are infractions by the protest, the organizers are arrested, not all of them, not to mention that the sentence for an illegal gathering (whatever that is) is two months in prison or a fine of around 250 shekels.
According to Palestinian watchdog, Lawyers for Justice, the Palestinian Authority has arrested over 120 citizens for expressing their opinions, peaceful assembly and political affiliation since last May. Among the detainees there were at least 15 women. The Palestinian security forces in both civilian and military clothing, used batons, stones, sticks and riot shields to physically assault and drag protesters across the street. On many occasions, detainees were severely beaten during arrest.
In this episode of Wake Up Palestine, Mohammad Hamayel talks with Melina Ansari, the international advocacy officer at the Addameer Prisoner Support & Human Rights Association. Together they discuss the detention of Palestinian protesters, their rights and more.
