Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 24, 2008 Adar1 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:00 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:42 23/02/2008 Hamas preacher dies while in Palestinian jail; kin allege torture By The Associated Press Tags: Hamas, West Bank, Fatah, Gaza A Hamas preacher died in the custody of the Palestinian intelligence service, and his family, citing reports from fellow detainees, alleged Saturday that he had been tortured. Majed Barghouti, 44, died at an intelligence lockup in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, a week after his arrest. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered an investigation of the death, which came among repeated complaints by Hamas detainees that they were mistreated by Abbas' forces. Advertisement An autopsy indicated that Barghouti had died of a heart problem, said Shawan Jabareen, head of the Palestinian human rights group Al Haq, adding that he had been shown the four-page medical report. However, Jabareen and six West Bank legislators called for another autopsy, under supervision. "Regardless of the cause of death," Jabareen said, "it is clear from witnesses that the conditions of detention are bad, that the treatment is inhumane and that is harms human dignity." Hamas denounced the death as a crime. In a statement published in Palestinian newspapers, the intelligence service said Barghouti had complained of chest and abdominal pain and was examined by a hospital doctor two days before his death. Intelligence officials were not available Saturday to comment on the torture allegations. Barghouti was among hundreds of Hamas activists to be detained by Abbas' security forces in the West Bank following the violent Hamas takeover of Gaza in June. Dozens are currently in custody. In many cases, Hamas activists are released after telling investigators about hidden weapons. One of Barghouti's relatives, Seif Barghouti, said Saturday that the family learned of the alleged mistreatment from four men who had been arrested along with Barghouti and were released after his death. The four told the family that they, along with Barghouti, had been tied up in painful positions during interrogation, and that intelligence officers demanded to know where the detainees had hidden weapons. Seif Barghouti said the released detainees had bruises on their arms and legs, from cuffing. They told the family that Barghouti had fainted repeatedly while being tied up, Seif Barghouti said. Barghouti was a mosque preacher in the West Bank village of Kobar, and spent several years in Israeli prisons. As the torture allegations spread, Barghouti's relatives blocked a main road near Kobar with rocks and burning tires on Friday evening and Saturday morning, demanding that his interrogators be put on trial. In Friday's protest, Palestinian security forces fired in the air to disperse the crowd. In Gaza, meanwhile, shops were closed for several hours Saturday to protest the eight-month closure of Gaza. Israel and Egypt severely restricted access to Gaza after the Hamas takeover, and Israel further limited the movement of people and goods during a spike in rocket fire from Gaza in recent weeks. The closure, accompanied by fuel and electricity reductions by Israel, has deepened poverty and wiped out tens of thousands of jobs. With three-quarters of Gazans now receiving some food aid, international concern about the situation is growing. Related articles: Hamas airs confessions of Fatah members in plot to kill Haniyeh Itamar Rabinovich / A separate peace ANALYSIS / Hamas banks on IDF invasion to deliver final blow to Abbas Fatah undergoing major democratic reform to compete with Hamas, Fayyad Bookmark to del.icio.us   Holocaust row U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick. 5 Stops in Galilee Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.   1.   Quick blame the Isrealis 13:10  |  Adrian de klerk 23/02/08   2.   outsourcing the occupation and torture 14:14  |  abbas is a pig 23/02/08   3.   Hams shot and through Fatah off roof tops in Gaza..sounds fair to 15:31  |  R 23/02/08   4.   IDF must not give in to Romanticism 15:41  |  The Archives 23/02/08   5.   Response to 2 17:31  |  B. 23/02/08   6.   LVH or FFH 17:32  |  Baz Mann 23/02/08   7.   GASP! Arabs committing torture???? I thought only Israel 18:35  |  SLAVO 23/02/08   8.   Nothing unusual,this is commonplace in israeli prisons for the 18:56  |  lakshmi 23/02/08   9.   Clever Abbas propoganda 19:50  |  PE 23/02/08   10.   Abbas will pay 20:11  |  Hajj Jafar 23/02/08   11.   What a disgraceful nation ....it shames me daily 21:18  |  Dutch 23/02/08   12.   dutch & lakshmi - didn`t read article 19:50  |  Adrian de Klerk 24/02/08

Today Online IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border Responses: 193 Gideon Levy: The Jerusalem issue is easy - half for Jews, half for Palestinians Responses: 60 For IDF brigade, 'Hebron is like Wild West and army is the law' Responses: 48 Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable' Responses: 101 Neo-Nazi turns Haredi after discovering his Jewish roots Responses: 44 Rosner's Domain Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? What America wants from an operation in Gaza Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation More Headlines 19:26 Israel girds for 40,000-strong Gazan human chain 19:16 PM: We absolutely won't fortify every building in Gaza area 19:34 Barak rejects PM call to ease rules of engagement at border 17:55 Olmert pulls for Beaufort, says 'it's time Israel won an Oscar' 19:53 Israel, Palestinians to start talks on civilian issues next week 12:23 Israeli Americans vote Clinton, but Obama wins global primary 19:59 Jordan to Arab MKs: Unilateral measures will harm peace process 18:42 Rebel Catholics: Pope caved on prayer to convert Jews 19:10 Iranian official: More UN sanctions will be 'costly' for West 17:22 U.K. paper prints photo of Anne Frank's childhood love interest 19:51 Thousands of Hamas loyalists turn preacher's funeral into W. Bank protest Previous Editions Select Day 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved