Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz intends to indict Palestinian Member of the Knesset Muhammed Barakeh in an attempt to “criminalize his political actions,” a letter from the official said on Sunday.

The independent human rights organization and legal center, Adalah, which received the letter, condemned Mazuz’s intention to indict Barakeh, who leads the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality. The indictment seems to charge him for a range of assault charges dating back to 2005.

Adalah stated in a press release that “The indictment is not based on any evidence that would convict MK Barakeh; it simply criminalizes MK Barakeh’s legitimate political activities against the Wall and the War on Lebanon and attempts to harm the reputation and status of an Arab leader.”

Mazuz intends to indict Barakeh for four separate assault charges against police officers and a right-wing activist during a number of demonstrations that the MK attended between 2005 and 2007, adding that Adalah and MK Barakeh are in possession of evidence proving his innocence.

During the demonstration against the Wall on 28 April 2005, which Barakeh attended, police attacked the anti-wall demonstrators with tear gas and sound bombs. Adalah filed a formal complaint on behalf of Barakeh to the Ministry of Justice Police Investigation Unit, but the complaint was never investigated.

Adalah stresses that the indictment is based on false evidence and added that “the failure of the ministry and the Attorney General to investigate the complaints by MK Barakeh and prosecute those responsible in both incidents, and the Attorney General’s decision to indict MK Barakeh indicates bad intentions and motivations in filing the indictment.”