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France 24
France 24
World

Trial over activist Nizar Banat's death: Palestinian leadership under pressure

MIDDLE EAST MATTERS © AFP

A trial is underway of 14 Palestinian officers, charged with beating to death a prominent critic of President Mahmoud Abbas. The killing of Nizar Banat in June drew widespread protests and calls for Abbas's resignation. Human rights groups say Palestinian Authority forces regularly arrest critics in the occupied West Bank, something that Abbas denies. We take a closer look.

Meanwhile, since civil war broke out in Syria, over 3.5 million refugees have fled to Turkey. The country was initially hailed as a safe haven for exiled Syrians. But 10 years have now passed since the start of the conflict, and Turkey's welcome is wearing thin. Syrian refugees face increasing racism and discrimination.

Finally, Iraq has welcomed home one of its most prized relics: an ancient tablet, bearing a portion of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Sumerian poem is regarded as one of the world's oldest works of literature. It was stolen from Iraq three decades ago, then smuggled into the United States. The tablet is among more than 17,000 objects returned to Baghdad from Washington.

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