Nizar Banat’s family says won’t attend ‘incomplete’ trial

The family of Palestinian activist, Nizar Banat, who died shortly after being detained by Palestinian security forces in June, announced yesterday that it will not attend the “incomplete and partial trial” of his murders today.

The family said in a statement that it had made the decision based on the notion that “the family cannot be present under the same roof with the assassination and criminal group”, and pledged to provide the court with a list of all witnesses, information, and lawyers.

A few days ago, the family said that it had given the Palestinian government and the military prosecution an opportunity “to uncover the crime and hold all those involved at all levels accountable, but the prosecution reduced the case to 14 defendants only”.

Last week, Palestinian security service spokesman Talal Dweikat said that 14 of the Palestinian security services’ personnel have been formally accused of “beatings causing death, abuse of power and violations of security instructions”.

Dweikat said the commander of the mission as well as officers who had participated in apprehending Banat have been charged with his death.

OPINION: Will political accountability be established in the light of Banat’s murder?

Banat, a leading critic of the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas, died in June after Palestinian security forces stormed his home in the city of Hebron and dragged him away.

A post-mortem found he had been beaten on the head, chest, neck, legs, and hands, with less than an hour passing between his arrest and his death.