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http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/643633.html
Immigration police officers on Wednesday morning brutally beat a deaf and mute foreign worker at the restaurant where he works in Tel Aviv.
The officers arrived at the restaurant to check identity cards. The man was beaten and arrested, and was later released after police were unable to determine from what country he arrived in Israel and, thus, to where he might be deported.
Co-workers at the restaurant on south Tel Aviv's Salameh Street, owned by an organization that provides food to homeless people, know the man as Moti. He works supplying food to the organization.
"He's an African guy who does not speak and apparently does not hear," said Ariel, a volunteer who works in the restaurant?s kitchen. "At 10 in the morning he arrived together with our supplier. They were bringing us food. A short time later, police officers from the Immigration Authority arrived and asked him for identification. He gave them something and they refused to give him his documents back. He took them back by force and reentered the restaurant.
"The police followed him in and called for back up, apparently to help arrest him," Ariel continued. "The officers started shouting and the man became hysterical. He grabbed a nearby hammer in order to threaten them and an officer pulled his handgun and loaded a bullet into the chamber. At the same time, other officers jumped on him and beat him almost to death. Another worker at the scene tried to separate them and was also hit."
According to employees, the man was unconscious when he was evacuated from the restaurant in handcuffs.
The man was released following a police background check.
"I told the officers that rather than going crazy, they should determine whether or not he is legally in the country. But they followed him into the restaurant and beat the hell out of him," Yossi, the restaurant manager, said.
The Immigration Authority provided a differing account of the incident:
"During a routine check, a Tel Aviv immigration unit arrived at the restaurant where the subject, a deaf-mute man, was employed. The subject was asked to provide documents testifying to the legality of his presence in the country but responded violently. He went to the restaurant warehouse, picked up a hammer and ran toward one of the officers. The officer was surprised, pulled out his handgun and aimed it at the worker ? but did not load a bullet into the chamber. At the same time, a back-up force was called in. When the force arrived, officers took control of the subject and brought him to the unit's office. He was examined by a doctor, was determined to be fit for incarceration and did not require further medical attention. It became clear that he had no sort of identifying document and, even though he is residing illegally in Israel, it was decided to release him due to his special circumstances. He had also been arrested and released in the past but efforts to clarify his situation have been futile."
Immigration police officers on Wednesday morning brutally beat a deaf and mute foreign worker at the restaurant where he works in Tel Aviv.
The officers arrived at the restaurant to check identity cards. The man was beaten and arrested, and was later released after police were unable to determine from what country he arrived in Israel and, thus, to where he might be deported.
Co-workers at the restaurant on south Tel Aviv's Salameh Street, owned by an organization that provides food to homeless people, know the man as Moti. He works supplying food to the organization.
"He's an African guy who does not speak and apparently does not hear," said Ariel, a volunteer who works in the restaurant?s kitchen. "At 10 in the morning he arrived together with our supplier. They were bringing us food. A short time later, police officers from the Immigration Authority arrived and asked him for identification. He gave them something and they refused to give him his documents back. He took them back by force and reentered the restaurant.
"The police followed him in and called for back up, apparently to help arrest him," Ariel continued. "The officers started shouting and the man became hysterical. He grabbed a nearby hammer in order to threaten them and an officer pulled his handgun and loaded a bullet into the chamber. At the same time, other officers jumped on him and beat him almost to death. Another worker at the scene tried to separate them and was also hit."
According to employees, the man was unconscious when he was evacuated from the restaurant in handcuffs.
The man was released following a police background check.
"I told the officers that rather than going crazy, they should determine whether or not he is legally in the country. But they followed him into the restaurant and beat the hell out of him," Yossi, the restaurant manager, said.
The Immigration Authority provided a differing account of the incident:
"During a routine check, a Tel Aviv immigration unit arrived at the restaurant where the subject, a deaf-mute man, was employed. The subject was asked to provide documents testifying to the legality of his presence in the country but responded violently. He went to the restaurant warehouse, picked up a hammer and ran toward one of the officers. The officer was surprised, pulled out his handgun and aimed it at the worker ? but did not load a bullet into the chamber. At the same time, a back-up force was called in. When the force arrived, officers took control of the subject and brought him to the unit's office. He was examined by a doctor, was determined to be fit for incarceration and did not require further medical attention. It became clear that he had no sort of identifying document and, even though he is residing illegally in Israel, it was decided to release him due to his special circumstances. He had also been arrested and released in the past but efforts to clarify his situation have been futile."