An attorney with the Hamas terrorist organization says he is filing a lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority security force for violating his civil rights.
The lawmaker, Abdel Rahman Zaidan, was at home in Deir Al-Ghusun, when more than 100 PA security personnel raided his house last Tuesday, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency.
Deir Al-Ghusan is located slightly north of the PA- controlled Samaria city of Tulkarem.
Zaidan claims that PA security personnel entered the premises without a warrant, searched the home, insulted him and abused his family before arresting and detaining him. His personal documents and laptop were seized as well.
In the lawsuit, Zaidan claims his parliamentary immunity was violated, in addition to the forces having carried out their actions without a warrant.
Palestinian Legislative Council members have not commented on the arrest, and Tulkarem governor Talal Dweikat denied the incident took place, telling Ma'an on Tuesday, “The claims are from Hamas.”
Dweikat said that Zaidan was at home with his family, and not detained. He further explained that Zaidan had been at the home of a suspect whose home in Tulkarem had been raided, and “he insisted to know what was going on.” PA security forces regularly conduct security raids on homes in Tulkarem, Dweikat added that Zaidan had voluntarily left with police to be a witness.
Prior to the incident, Zaidan accused the PA government of murdering a Hamas member in Tulkarem together with Israeli agents, according to the report.
The report also quoted rights groups who claimed the PA currently holds some 500 detainees in Judea and Samaria, simply due to their political connections.
“The Palestinian Authority's security forces in the West Bank have continued to arrest persons who are believed to be affiliated or sympathizers” with the Hamas terrorist organization, said a joint statement issued by the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights and Al-Haq, a Ramallah-based non-govermental human rights organization.