Dozens Injured During Protests Marking 27th Anniversary of Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre

Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian demonstrators in Hebron during protests marking 27th anniversary of Ibrahimi Mosque massacre on Friday, February 26, 2021. (AFP) 0
Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian demonstrators in Hebron during protests marking 27th anniversary of Ibrahimi Mosque massacre on Friday, February 26, 2021. (AFP) 0
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Dozens Injured During Protests Marking 27th Anniversary of Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre

Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian demonstrators in Hebron during protests marking 27th anniversary of Ibrahimi Mosque massacre on Friday, February 26, 2021. (AFP) 0
Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian demonstrators in Hebron during protests marking 27th anniversary of Ibrahimi Mosque massacre on Friday, February 26, 2021. (AFP) 0

Two Palestinian children were injured and dozens of civilians suffocated in Hebron and various occupied Palestinian cities on Friday as the Israeli army attempted to oppress peaceful protests marking the anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre.

In Hebron, Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas at citizens who marched the streets from Ali al-Bakka Mosque in the city center to commemorate the massacre’s 27th anniversary and condemn the occupation forces’ measures and attacks on the Mosque.

Demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and pictures of the mosque and the martyrs while chanting slogans denouncing the settlers and the army’s crimes against Palestinians.

On Feb. 25, 1994, during dawn prayer, hundreds of Palestinians were attacked by mass shootings and bombings at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. The attack killed 29 worshippers and injured 150 others.

Israeli soldiers who were present back then closed the doors of the mosque to prevent worshipers from leaving and did not allow the entrance of people who tried to save the wounded.

Later, other Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli bullets, taking the number of martyrs to 50.

Palestinians launched their weekly peaceful rallies after Friday prayers to protest this massacre and the continuation of repression, Judaization, occupation, and settlement policies.

The Israeli army used rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse the marchers.

In Saffa village, west of Ramallah, Israeli forces shot and injured 16-year-old Ahmad Falna in the leg with live ammunition.

Occupation soldiers took the child in an ambulance to Hadassah Hospital in West Jerusalem.

In the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum to demand the reopening of the village street, which has been closed for more than 17 years, a 10-year-old child was wounded with a sponge-tipped bullet in the chest.

Dozens suffocated and five others were arrested after the Israeli army dispersed marches condemning settlement in the occupied West Bank.

On Friday at dawn, dozens of settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army forces, stormed the Islamic shrines in Kafel Haris town, north of Salfit city.

Friday prayers were performed on the ruins of the Alayan family demolished building by the occupation municipality in Deir Jarir village.



Tunisia Detains Prominent Lawyer Souab

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia Detains Prominent Lawyer Souab

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisian police on Monday detained Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer and fierce critic of the country's president, lawyers told Reuters, raising human rights groups' concerns that a crackdown on dissent will go ahead.

Souab is among the lawyers acting for opposition leaders who received lengthy prison sentences on Saturday on conspiracy charges.

Souab strongly criticized the judge and the trial on Friday, calling it a farce and saying the judiciary had been completely destroyed.

"It seems he was detained because of his critical comments on the trial on Friday," said Samir Dilou, one of Souab's lawyers. Two others lawyers confirmed the detention.

Political parties rejected the rulings, saying they were retaliatory after a trial aimed at cementing President Kais Saied's authoritarian rule.

Rights groups say Saied has had full control over the judiciary since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. He dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges in 2022.

"The mass conviction of dissidents...is a disturbing indication of the authorities' willingness to go ahead with its crackdown on peaceful dissent," the human rights group Amnesty International said.

Those convicted included prominent leaders of the Islamist Ennahda party, the main opposition party to Saied.

Ennahda Vice President, Noureddine Bhiri received a 43-year prison sentence, while the court sentenced two senior party officials, Said Ferjani and Sahbi Atig, to ​​13 years each.

The largest sentence was 66 years for businessman Kamel Ltaif, while opposition politician Khyam Turki received a 48-year sentence.