Honley woman Paveen Yaqub claims she was kicked and mocked by Israeli police

Jun 5 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A WOMAN taken prisoner when a Gaza aid flotilla was stormed has claimed she was attacked by Israeli policemen.

Pro-Palestinian activist Paveen Yaqub, from Honley, was captured when Israeli commandos stormed an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

The 39-year-old was on board the Mavi Marmara, where nine people were killed on Monday.

Now in reports from Turkey, she alleges she was kicked and abused by two Israeli policemen when she was taken to a compound for questioning.

She is reported to have told journalists: “They were kicking my legs to make me fall and mocking me in Hebrew.

“They were trying to take trophy pictures with me and they liked laughing in my face.

“They also searched me but I won’t go into that. They took pleasure in humiliating us.”

Speaking from Istanbul Airport, Paveen said the experience had been a “nightmare”.

Holding back tears she said: “We were terrorised for the last few days by the Israeli authorities.