Arab Rights Group Protests Closure of Case Against Police Over Assault on Cleric
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
The equality center (Musaawa) is protesting the closure of an investigation into an alleged assault on Father Constantine Nassar by police in Jaffa on September 29, 2026. The group is demanding the investigation files and reasons for closure, intending to appeal. Musaawa warns that such closures foster impunity and increase mistrust between Arab citizens and law enforcement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The equality center (Musaawa) is protesting the closure of an investigation into an alleged police assault on Father Constantine Nassar.
- Father Nassar claims police assaulted and arrested him on September 29, 2026, after he objected to their treatment of Arab youths.
- Musaawa seeks the investigation files and reasons for closure to appeal the decision.
- The group warns that closing such cases fosters impunity and erodes trust in law enforcement.
- The organization highlights a rise in racist attacks and hate speech against Arab citizens.
The equality center (Musaawa) has protested the closure of the investigation into the alleged assault of Father Constantine Nassar, the Orthodox Church priest in Jaffa. The organization has requested the investigation materials and the reasons for the closure decision, intending to appeal and reopen the case.
The move comes amid growing concerns over escalating racist attacks and hate speech against Arab citizens, including clergy. The center highlighted that complaints about police violence raise serious questions about accountability mechanisms and equal protection for all citizens.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 29, 2026, when Father Nassar intervened in a police operation in Jaffa, objecting to the forceful handling of Arab youths. According to his account, police officers responded with verbal abuse, then forcibly restrained and arrested him, despite his claims of non-resistance. He also alleged being subjected to threats, insults, and having his clerical robe removed while in a police vehicle, followed by a full strip search at the station.
Musaawa emphasized that the case is not just about a physical assault on a clergyman but also about an attack on his dignity and religious identity. The organization warned that continuing such assaults and incitement without accountability would foster a climate of impunity and deepen mistrust between the Arab community and law enforcement.
The center reiterated that the closure of investigations into serious allegations of police violence, without clear explanations or avenues for appeal, sends a message that officers may escape accountability. Musaawa is continuing to follow the case with Father Nassar and is considering a legal challenge to reopen the investigation.
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