Three US lawmakers condemn Palestinian Authority’s arrest of human rights defenders
Washington (QNN)- Three US lawmakers has condemned the Palestinian Authority’s arrest of at least 28 human rights defenders over participating in peaceful protest against PA’s killing of Nizar Banat as emboldening “Israel’s apartheid.”
The Representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Cori Bush, all known as being a vocal pro-Palestine voices in the American politics, has slammed the Palestinian Authority’s arrest of at least 28 human rights defenders following their participation in a protest in central Ramallah against the killing of Nizar Banat, an outspoken critic of the PA, last June.
In a tweet, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib addressed the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas by saying this is “not how you protect and serve the Palestinian people.”
“Shame on you for suppressing Palestinian voices who are trying to seek liberation from not only the Israeli apartheid government, but from your corrupt leadership,” said Tlaib, the first Palestinian Progressive Democrat and was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents.
Dear President Mahmoud Abbas,
This is NOT how you protect and serve the Palestinian people. Shame on you for suppressing Palestinian voices who are trying to seek liberation from not only the Israeli apartheid government, but from your corrupt leadership. https://t.co/xMwCn73r0I
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 23, 2021
Congresswoman Cori Bush has also slammed the PA’s arrest of the peaceful protesters, noting that “suppressing dissent and criminalizing protest only deepens the violence of Israel’s apartheid system.”
“Shame on the Palestinian Authority. We stand with Palestinians against the violence of the Palestinian Authority’s authoritarianism. Freedom for political prisoners now,” Bush tweeted.
Shame on the Palestinian Authority.
Suppressing dissent and criminalizing protest only deepens the violence of Israel’s apartheid system.
We stand with Palestinians against the violence of the Palestinian Authority’s authoritarianism. Freedom for political prisoners now. https://t.co/6lZmI6KAlX
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) August 23, 2021
Rep. Ilhan Omar has also urged the Palestinian Authority’s to release the “these political prisoners and conduct a thorough transparent investigation into Nizar Banat’s killing,” saying that “locking up peaceful protesters is a textbook human rights abuse and the hallmark of authoritarian regimes.”
Locking up peaceful protesters is a textbook human rights abuse and the hallmark of authoritarian regimes.
I urge the Palestinian authority to release these political prisoners and conduct a thorough transparent investigation into Nizar Banat’s killing. https://t.co/n4Mc3E0CGU
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 23, 2021
During the past two days, at least 28 Palestinians, most of them intellectuals, activists and former prisoners in Israeli detentions, were arrested by the PA’s forces.
The protestors called to conduct a comprehensive investigation into what happened and to ensure that those responsible for Banat’s death were punished.
According to the testimonies of those who were released, the PA holds those it arrests in very inhumane conditions and before being arrested, the PA forces brutally assaulted and beat them.
Astrophysicist Imad Barghouthi, who worked for Nasa, added that he was accused of insulting the PA’s President, Mahmoud Abbas, and attacking the policemen although he has not even attended the protest because it was banned before it got started.
Earlier in June, Banat was killed by the PA forces as his health deteriorated when a force of the security services went to arrest him from his home.
It said he was taken to a hospital where he was later announced dead, as around 25 Palestinian security forces stormed the home where Nizar was staying, blowing out doors and windows, beating Nizar with an iron bar and sprayed pepper spray in his eyes before undressing him and dragging him away to a vehicle.
Nizar Banat’s killing by Palestinian Authority forces has been met with anger on the streets and condemnation from Palestinian factions and human rights organizations.
Despite the local and international calls to bring those responsible accountable, the PA continues to delay announcing the results of the investigations into the crime. It also continues to detain those who protest demanding justice for Banat.
