Ex-prisoner Lu'ay Al Ashkar leaves Israeli detention in a wheelchair

Monday August 20, 2007 12:22 by Maisa Abu Ghazala - IMEMC News

The lawyer for the ex-prisoner Lu’ay Al Ashakr has brought criminal charges against Israeli officials in the hope of gaining compensation for his client.

Al Ashkar entered detention with full use of his legs, but after repeated torture was released paralyzed from the waist down.

Bishara Jabali, Al Ashkar’s lawyer, has initiated a lawsuit against the state of Israeli, the previous head of Shabak (Avy Dekhter), the current head of Shabak (Youval Desken) and the investigators of Shabak, asking for the compensation of his client.

Al Ashkar, who was held for two years, was kidnapped from his home in April 2005 on suspicion of involvement in an explosion in Israel.

After undergoing medical tests in prison which proved his good health, Al Ashkar sustained a broken back after being tortured for three consecutive days.

Two months later, the prison administration allowed the man to enter a hospital in Haifa for medical treatment, after which Al Ashkar regained the use of his legs. After returning to the detention centre, Al Ashkar was again subjected to various forms of tourture and again lost the ability to walk.

Since his release, the man has reported that Israeli authorities have banned him from traveling to Jordan for medical treatment and have barred from entering Israeli hospitals.

Lu'ay finished by calling on the Palestinian President and all relevant organizations to support him and all the Palestinians prisoners.

Translated by - Nisreen Qumsieh

palestine | prisoners | news report nisreen at imemc dot org