Birzeit University administration, Workers’ Union, and students organized a sit-in in solidarity with former Birzeit student and head of its students’ council, journalist Mohammed Al-Qeeq, who has been on hunger strike since November 25 against his imprisonment without charges or trial.
Protesters at the event on 17 February on Birzeit’s campus called for the immediate and unconditional release of Al-Qeeq and all prisoners as key to the realization of justice and comprehensive peace. They called upon all academic institutions and international organizations to work together to promote and implement campaigns of boycott and sanctions against Israel and its illegal measures against Palestinians.
“Palestinian journalists have always been on the frontline, and Al-Qeeq is now experiencing forceful and abusive measures from the Israeli occupation because he practiced his normal right of speech and freedom of expression”, said university president Professor Abdel Latif Abu Hijleh.
On behalf of the Workers’ Union, Salem Thawaba demanded that officials should urgently interfere to end Al-Qeeq’s torture. He stressed on the importance of unity and reconciliation for Al-Qeeq whose health has deteriorated to the point of facing imminent death.
Representatives from the students’ council assured that the student movement will never stop its solidarity events to support Al-Qeeq and all prisoners who are struggling on behalf of the whole nation for the sake of the Palestinian cause.
