The Association France Palestine Solidarité has learnt with deep emotion of the death of the Palestinian activist Nizar Banat, arrested at his home, last night, by the security services of the Palestinian Authority.
An opponent of the Palestinian Authority, Nizar Banat had already been arrested several times and detained by the PA. He was released in November 2020, and was a candidate in the elections for the Legislative Council, before they were cancelled by a unilateral decision of the president of the Palestinian Authority.
Shortly after his arrest Nizar Banat died in the premises of the Palestinian security, whose particularly brutal methods his family emphasizes. He was "severely beaten on his head with sticks and iron bars during his arrest". According to his family, he was "deliberately murdered".
The Association France Palestine Solidarité protests against such methods. It demands that all light be shed on the circumstances of Nizar Banat’s death, in the conditions of independence requested by his family. Those responsible for these facts must be held accountable before the Palestinian courts.
The Palestinian people, through their recent mobilizations, have shown their strength and determination in the face of the Israeli occupation. They have also expressed their desire for unity. This will must be respected, as well as the freedom of expression to which political opponents and human rights defenders are entitled.
The national executive board of AFPS, 24 June 2021