Arab MK Complains of Police Harassment

Published March 15th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Israel's justice ministry's internal investigation unit will examine a complaint submitted by Arab Israeli MK, Ahmed Tibi, in which he said he was attacked by a border policeman on Monday morning, near a roadblock on the bypass road in north Jerusalem, reported The Jerusalem Post newspaper.  

It added that a border policeman also filed a complaint with police, alleging he was attacked by Tibi.  

Police, said the paper, noted that it was the fourth inquiry launched in which Tibi was involved in incidents with border policemen.  

Tibi said that four border policemen followed him to his daughter's day care center near his home in Dahiat El-Barid. He said that after he exited the center, the policemen surrounded his car.  

According to Tibi, he identified himself, but the commander nevertheless tried to break into his car, said the Post.  

Tibi said he asked what they were doing, and the officer said: "Shut up! We are doing our job."  

Tibi said he responded that the officer was violating the law and his rights as an MK.  

"You're going to get it now, and I'll show you what happens when you talk to a Border Police officer like that," Tibi quoted the officer as telling him.  

Border police spokeswoman, Liat Perel, noted that the incident is being investigated. But she said that according to an initial probe, a border police unit was inspecting a vehicle parked at the side of the road when Tibi exited a nearby building and began yelling at them, saying it was his car.  

Tibi refused to identify himself when asked, she said, and Tibi allegedly told them that they knew he was an MK and had immunity.  

The paper said that after an exchange of words, Tibi allegedly shoved the border policeman on the shoulder, got in his car, and only then showed them his identity card.  

"If MK Tibi had shown them his identity card when they requested, nothing would have happened. He should take into account that not everyone recognizes him and as a Knesset member, he should show a little more sensitivity due to the current security situation whereby security forces are on high alert because of the imminent terror warnings," she said.  

However, according to Tibi, border policemen arrived in Dahiat El-Barid with the intention of confronting him because of a past incident at the A-Ram junction roadblock involving the harassment and humiliation of his assistant by them - Albawaba.com 

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content