When asked by the court under what basis Tarek was being held, prosecutors said they were still “collecting evidence.”
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US ‘profoundly troubled’ by brutal beating of Palestine teen who turned out to be American
Tarek Abu Khdeir from Tampa Florida before and after his run in with Israeli police
Tarek Abu Khdeir is the cousin of Mohammad Abu Khdeir the teenager whose autopsy shows he was burnt alive in East Jerusalem. Since his beating he has been held without charge. His mother was allowed to see him in the hospital, where she took a photograph of his injuries, but she has not seen him since. He is 15 years old.
The mother of Tarek Abu Khdeir (portrait), the 15-year-old cousin of the murdered Palestinian youth Mohammad, shows a picture of her son, she took of him at the hospital after he was assaulted by Israeli police in East Jerusalem on July 5, 2014. (AFP Photo / Ahmad Gharabli)
According to a police spokesman, the incident featured in the video occurred while six “masked rioters”were being arrested. Three of them were alleged to have been carrying knives.
“They resisted arrest and attacked the soldiers,the spokesman said, adding that Molotov cocktails were hurled toward the police, an attack he described “nearly fatal.”
Nevertheless, he said that the incident is being investigated. According to the spokesman, some 15 soldiers and police officers were wounded in the riots in East Jerusalem on Thursday.
Tensions rose after Mohammad Abu Khdeir’s body was found on Wednesday.
Since then, dozens were injured by rubber bullets, including six journalists, and three people suffered fractures after being assaulted by Israeli police officers, Ma’an reported.
The boy was then transferred directly to the court (after hospital treatment) but has not yet been formally charged, though authorities claim he was throwing stones “despite being unable to provide any evidence to the court.”
When asked by the court under what basis Tarek was being held, prosecutors said they were still “collecting evidence.” (source)
The state department had this to say in their press release regarding the incident:
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson Washington, DCJuly 5, 2014We can confirm that Tariq Khdeir, an American citizen, is being held by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem. He was visited by an official from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem today.
We are profoundly troubled by reports that he was severely beaten while in police custody and strongly condemn any excessive use of force. We are calling for a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force.
We reiterate our grave concern about the increasing violent incidents, and call on all sides to take steps to restore calm and prevent harm to innocents.
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Contributed by Chris Carrington of The Daily Sheeple.
Chris Carrington is a writer, researcher and lecturer with a background in science, technology and environmental studies. Chris is an editor for The Daily Sheeple. Wake the flock up!
