Palestinian Dies After Torture Complaint
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JERUSALEM — The Israeli government disclosed Wednesday that a Palestinian died in the custody of the Shin Bet secret service after complaining earlier this week to a judge that he was being tortured.
The national police opened an investigation, but the Israeli human rights group Betselem demanded an independent inquiry.
Mustafa Akawi, a 36-year-old cosmetics salesman, died Monday night or early Tuesday in a Shin Bet jail in the West Bank town of Hebron. Relatives said he was in good health before he was arrested on Jan. 22.
During a court hearing Monday on extending his custody without charge, Akawi complained to the judge of being tortured, said his Israeli lawyer, Leah Tzemel.
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