Palestinian Authority faces million dollar lawsuit for torturing prisoner

The lawsuit claims the prisoner was beaten with batons and sticks, deprived of sleep, faced verbal abuse and was forced to perform humiliating acts by two Palestinian criminal investigators.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: AUGUST 13, 2015 16:22
Palestinian Authority police officers stand guard in the West Bank [File] (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority police officers stand guard in the West Bank [File]
(photo credit: REUTERS)
A Palestinian rights group filed a million dollar civil lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian police and the Palestinian Attorney General on Thursday for compensation for an Al-Quds University student, who was allegedly tortured while detained in a Palestinian detention center, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an News Agency. 
According to the complaint filed by the the Civil Authority for the Independence of the Judiciary Body and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL),  Ahmad Bilal Abd al-Malak al-Deekm spent five days in June in a Palestinian Authority detention center for criticizing the government on his social media profiles and was subjected to various acts of torture.
The report states that al-Deekm was beaten with batons and sticks, deprived of sleep, faced verbal abuse and was forced to perform humiliating acts by two Palestinian criminal investigators.
The plaintiff was released to Yasser Arafat hospital after his health severely deteriorated due to fears that he might die while in custody. Doctors have confirmed the patient's severe bruising was the result of torture.
ISTIQLAL has said that it hopes that this lawsuit will encourage other Palestinians to speak out about torture they have faced and seek compensation from those violating human rights.