An organization representing 12 Christian congregations on Monday condemned a case of Israeli police for the violence at a funeral of Palestinian journalist Christian Al Jazeera, describing the actions as a violation of religious freedom.The mourners, some carrying Palestinian flags, were escorting the coffin of Shireen Abu Akleh, a two-year-old American citizen, from the Saint Joseph nunnery to Greece-Melkite Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin when police laid charges. Friday’s incident, in which police beat Abu Akleh’s staff, was broadcast live around the world and sparked outrage over the shooting of a journalist during a raid by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.
Police actions include “assault and abuse of power … (and) serious violations of international law and law, including the fundamental right to religious freedom”, a hospital statement quoted as saying by the Christian Churches of the Holy Land. Although he blamed the “hundreds of riots” on the violence, police said they were investigating the incident.
Israel and Palestinians are still at loggerheads over Abu Akleh’s shooting in Jenin on Wednesday. Palestinians accuse Israel of killing him and have called for a global response. Israel denied any wrongdoing, saying he may have been accidentally shot by a Palestinian soldier or gunman during a shootout.
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