Palestinian leader Marwan Barquette has faced a series of violent assaults in Israeli jails in recent weeks, according to his legal counsel.
Lawyer Ben Marmarelli stated on Wednesday that the 66-year-old senior Fatah leader has been subjected to three separate assaults during March and April. Marmarelli released the statement through the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office's Telegram page.
The attorney noted a pattern of "escalating violations" during Barghouti's detention. He reported that Barghouti was left bleeding after a severe beating at Ganot Prison in central Israel on April 8.
Marmarelli claimed that prison authorities denied requests for medical attention following the April 8 incident. This follows a previous attack last year that resulted in head injuries and four broken ribs, according to reports from aljazeera.com.
Pattern of physical abuse
The lawyer detailed a specific incident on March 25, when Barghouti was being transferred from Megiddo Prison to Ganot. According to Marmarelli, guards "stormed his cell with a dog, forced him to lie on the floor, and then the dog repeatedly attacked him."
The "Free Marwan" international campaign also released a statement regarding Barghouti's time in solitary confinement. The group said the leader has faced "new brutal assaults" while held at Megiddo and Ramon Prison.
Marmarelli described his recent five-hour visit with Barghouti as "harsh and inhumane." The lawyer said he and his client were forced to shout through glass to communicate.
Despite the conditions, the lawyer described Barghouti as "sharp-minded, focused, and fully engaged in following events outside the prison walls," according to aljazeera.com.
Barghouti is serving five life sentences in Israeli prisons for charges related to attacks during the second Intifada. He is considered a central figure in Palestinian politics due to his ability to unite various political factions.
Recent tensions in the prison system include a new Israeli law that allows for the one-sided use of the death penalty for Palestinians. The law has led to fears of mass executions for detainees held on "terror" charges, according to the report.