Num:117/2021
Date: 27 Sep 2021
Press release
ICSPR: The arrest of an eye witness in the case of the assassination of “Nizar Banat” by the Palestinian security, is new evidence of the mock trial of the killers.
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) strongly condemns the Palestinian security services policy of silencing and misrepresenting justice practiced against witnesses in the case of the assassination of the political opponent “Nizar Banat”.
According to the available data, members of the Palestinian security forces stormed today, Monday, September 27, 2021, a number of homes belonging to the Banat family and then arresting the citizen: “Hussein Banat”, as one of the witnesses in the aforementioned Nizar Banat assassination case.
ICSPR views these practices with seriousness and suspicion as they come at a time when the trial of the killers has been repeatedly postponed, where the latest of which was the postponement of the trial session that was scheduled for today.
ICSPR considers that these practices a violation of Palestinian laws, including the obligations of the State of Palestine under its accession to human rights covenants. Therefore:
1. ICSPR expresses its fear that these practices are carried out by the security services come within the framework of silencing mouths, misleading justice, obliterating the truth and covering up the perpetrators.
2. ICSPR calls for legal protection for witnesses and for all the circumstances of the Nizar Banat assassination case, including taking the legal requirement against anyone who tries to mislead justice by arresting witnesses and restricting them.
3. ICSPR renews its demands to work hard to ensure the formation of an independent national fact-finding committee, and to ensure legal procedures and a fair trial to achieve justice.
4. ICSPR demands honest and immediate adherence to the provisions of the Basic Law and other national laws, especially with regard to strengthening the principles of separation of powers, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary as the last resort for victims of violations.
