IDF officer accused of abusing Imam

Imam handcuffed, driven 15 kilometers away from his village; officer claims Palestinian spewed anti-Israel remarks. Indictment against the officers was filed on Sunday in a military court in Jaffa
Hanan Greenberg

A lieutenant in the Paratroopers has been accused of punishing an Imam (Muslim leader) from the Palestinian village Dir Nizam, located northwest of Ramallah, by handcuffing him and making him walk 15 kilometers (about 9 miles).

The officer claimed that the Palestinian leader spewed anti-Israel remarks.

The indictment against the officer was filed on Sunday in a military court in Jaffa. The officer is charged with violating his authority; the maximum punishment for such an offense is one year in prison.

According to the charges, the officer handcuffed the Palestinian, before placing him in an army jeep and driving him 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the village.

Then he dropped the Imam off, forcing him to walk back to his home and releasing himself from the handcuffs.

Palestinian organizations filed a complaint, and Military Police proceeded to launch an investigation into the incident, which eventually led to the indictment.

The legal proceedings are scheduled to begin at the end of October. Among the prosecution’s witnesses is the officer’s former commander.

Only a few days ago, the Supreme Court held a hearing on the IDF’s “Human Shield” procedure, stating that it violates international law, and banning the handcuffing of Palestinians in the territories during dangerous operations.