The family of a Hamas preacher who died while in the custody of the Palestinian intelligence service has alleged that he had been tortured by his Fatah interrogators.
Authorities confirmed the death of 44-year-old Majed Barghouti at an intelligence lockup in the West Bank city of Ramallah, which is controlled by Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Citing reports from fellow detainees, Barghouti's family alleged he had been tortured before dying on Friday, a week after his arrest. The Islamic militant group Hamas denounced the death as a crime.
Abbas ordered an investigation amid repeated complaints by Hamas detainees that they were mistreated by his Fatah forces. Six West Bank legislators called for an independent investigation, and Barghouti's family said it would agree to an autopsy, if attended by independent observers.
Hamas and Fatah are locked in a power struggle for control of the Palestinian territories. Hamas forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah in June but Abbas and Fatah control a rival government in the West Bank.
The intelligence service said Barghouti had complained of chest and abdominal pain and was examined by a hospital doctor two days before his death, according to a statement published in Palestinian newspapers. Intelligence officials were not available Saturday to comment on the torture allegations.
Barghouti was among hundreds of Hamas activists to be detained by Abbas' security forces in the West Bank following the Hamas takeover of Gaza. Dozens are currently in custody. In many cases, Hamas activists are released after telling investigators about hidden weapons.
Barghouti's cousin, Seif Barghouti, said today the family learned of the alleged mistreatment from four men who had been arrested along with Barghouti and were released after his death.
The four told the family that they and Barghouti had been tied up in painful positions during interrogation and that intelligence officers demanded to know where the detainees had hidden weapons.